the woman-haters-第6部分

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〃Purely　by　accident。　　You　didn't　answer　them。　　You　asked　me　some；
also；　if　you　will　remember；　and　I　didn't　answer　them；　either。　　Good！
We　forget　everything　and　agree　not　to　do　it　again。〃

〃Ugh！　　I　tell　you　I　ain't　done　nothin'。〃

〃I　know。　　Neither　have　I。　　Let　the　dead　past　be　its　own　undertaker；
so　far　as　we　are　concerned。　　I'm　honest；　Atkins；　and　tolerably
straight。　　I　believe　you　are；　I　really　do。　　But　we　don't　care　to
talk　about　ourselves；　that's　all。　　And；　fortunately；　kind　Providence
has　brought　us　together　in　a　place　where　there's　no　one　else　TO
talk。　　I　like　you；　I　credit　you　with　good　taste；　therefore；　you　must
like　me。〃

〃Hey？　　Ho；　ho！〃　Seth　laughed；　in　spite　of　himself。　　〃Young　man；〃　he
observed；　〃you　ain't　cultivated　your　modesty　under　glass；　have　you？〃

Brown　smiled。　　〃Joking　aside；〃　he　said；　〃I　don't　see　why　I
shouldn't；　in　time；　make　an　ideal　assistant　lightkeeper。　　Give　me　a
trial；　at　any　rate。　　I　need　an　employer；　you　need　a　helper。　　Here　we
both　are。　　Come；　it　is　a　bargain；　isn't　it？　　Any　brass　to　be
scrubbedboss？〃


Of　course；　had　Eastboro　Twin…Lights　been　an　important　station；　the
possibility　of　John　Brown's　remaining　there　would　have　been
nonexistent。　　If　it　had　been　winter；　or　even　early　spring　or　fall；　a
regular　assistant　would　have　been　appointed　at　once；　and　the
castaway　given　his　walking　papers。　　If　Seth　Atkins　had　not　been　Seth
Atkins；　particular　friend　of　the　district　superintendent；　matters
might　have　been　different。　　But　the　Eastboro　lights　were
unimportant；　merely　a　half…way　mark　between　Orham　on　the　one　hand
and　the　powerful　Seaboard　Heights　beacon　on　the　other。　　It　was　the
beginning　of　summer；　when　wrecks　almost　never　occurred。　　And　the
superintendent　liked　Seth；　and　Seth　liked　him。　　So；　although　Mr。
Atkins　still　scoffed　at　his　guest's　becoming　a　permanent　fixture　at
the　lights；　and　merely　consented；　after　more　parley；　to　see　if　he
couldn't　arrange　for　him　to　〃hang　around　and　help　a　spell　until
somebody　else　was　sent；〃　the　conversation　with　the　superintendent
over　the　long　distance　'phone　resulted　more　favorably　for　Brown　than
that　nonchalant　young　gentleman　had　a　reasonable　right　to　expect。

〃The　Lord　knows　who　I　can　send　you　now；　Atkins！〃　said　the
superintendent。　　〃I　can't　think　of　a　man　anywhere　that　can　be
spared。　　If　you　can　get　on　for　a　day　or　two　longer；　I'll　try　to　get
a　helper　down！　but　where　he's　coming　from　I　don't　see。〃

Then　Seth　sprung　the　news　that　he　had　a　〃sort　of　helper〃　already。
〃He's　a　likely　young　chap　enough；〃　admitted　the　lightkeeper；
whispering　the　words　into　the　transmitter；　in　order　that　the　〃likely
young　chap〃　might　not　hear；　〃but　he's　purty　green　yet。　　He　wants　the
reg'lar　job　and；　give　me　time　enough；　I　cal'late　I　can　break　him　in。
Yes；　I'm　pretty　sure　I　can。　　And　it's　the　off　season；　so　there
really　ain't　no　danger。　　In　a　month　he'd　be　doin'　fust…rate。〃

〃Who　is　he？　　Where　did　he　come　from？〃　asked　the　superintendent。

〃Name's　Brown。　　He　come　fromfrom　off　here　a　ways；〃　was　the
strictly　truthful　answer。　　〃He　used　to　be　on　a　steamboat。〃

〃All　right。　　If　you'll　take　a　share　of　the　responsibility；　I'll　take
the　rest。　　And；　as　soon　as　I　can；　I'll　send　you　a　regular　man。〃

〃I　can't　pay　you　no　steady　wages；〃　Seth　explained　to　his　new　helper。
〃Salaries　come　from　the　gov'ment；　and；　until　they　say　so；　I　ain't
got　no　right　to　do　it。　　And　I　can't　let　you　monkey　with　the　lights；
except　to　clean　up　around　and　such。　　If　you　want　to　stay　a　spell；
until　an　assistant's　app'inted；　I'll　undertake　to　be　responsible　for
your　keep。　　And　if　you　need　some　new　shoes　or　stockin's　or　a　cap；　or
the　like　of　that；　I'll　see　you　get　'em。　　Further'n　that　I　can't　go
yet。　　It's　a　pretty　poor　job　for　a　fellow　like　you；　and　if　I　was　you
I　wouldn't　take　it。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　you　would；〃　replied　Brown；　with　conviction。　　〃If　you　were
I；　you　would　take　it　with　bells　on。　　Others　may　yearn　for　the
strenuous　life；　but　not　your　humble　servant。　　As　for　me；　I　stay　here
and　'clean　up　around。'〃

And　stay　he　did；　performing　the　cleaning　up　and　other　duties　with
unexpected　success　and　zeal。　　Atkins；　for　the　first　day　or　two；
watched　him　intently；　being　still　a　trifle　suspicious　and　fearful　of
his　〃substitute　assistant。〃　　But　as　time　passed　and　the　latter　asked
no　more　questions；　seemed　not　in　the　least　curious　concerning　his
superior；　and　remained　the　same　cool；　easy…going；　cheerful
individual　whom　Seth　had　found　asleep　on　the　beach；　the
lightkeeper's　suspicions　were　ended。　　It　was　true　that　Brown　was　as
mysterious　and　secretive　as　ever　concerning　his　own　past；　but　that
had　been　a　part　of　their　bargain。　　Atkins；　who　prided　himself　on
being　a　judge　of　human　nature；　decided　that　his　helper　was　a　young
gentleman　in　trouble；　but　that　the　trouble；　whatever　it　might　be；
involved　nothing　criminal　or　dishonest。　　That　he　was　a　gentleman；　he
was　surehis　bearing　and　manner　proved　that；　but　he　was　a　gentleman
who　did　not　〃put　on　airs。〃　　Not　that　there　was　any　reason　why　he
should　put　on　airs；　but；　so　far　as　that　was　concerned；　there　was　no
apparent　reason　for　the　monumental　conceit　and　condescension　of　some
of　the　inflated　city　boarders　in　the　village。　　Brown　was　not　like
those　people　at　all。

Seth　had　taken　a　fancy　to　him　at　their　first　meeting。　　Now　his
liking　steadily　increased。　　Companionship　in　a　lonely　spot　like
Eastboro　Twin…Lights　is　a　test　of　a　man's　temper。　　Brown　stood　the
test　well。　　If　he　made　mistakes　in　the　workand　he　did　make　some
ridiculous　oneshe　cheerfully　undid　them　when　they　were　pointed　out
to　him。　　He　was；　for　the　most　part；　good…natured　and　willing　to
talk；　though　there　were　periods　when　he　seemed　depressed　and
wandered　off　by　himself　along　the　beach　or　sat　by　the　edge　of　the
bluff；　staring　out　to　sea。　　The　lightkeeper　made　no　comment　on　this
trait　in　his　character。　　It　helped　to　confirm　his　own　judgment
concerning　the　young　fellow's　trouble。　　People　in　trouble　were
subject　to　fits　of　the　〃blues；〃　and　during　these　fits　they　liked　to
be　alone。　　Seth　knew　this　from　his　own　experience。　　There　were　times
when　he；　too；　sought　solitude。

He　trusted　his　helper　more　and　more。　　He　did　not；　of　course；　permit
him　to　take　the　night　watch　in　the　lights；　but　he　did　trust　him　to
the　extent　of　leaving　him　alone　for　a　whole　afternoon　while　he　drove
the　old　horse；　attached　to　the　antique　〃open　wagon〃both　steed　and
vehicle　a　part　of　the　government　propertyover　to　Eastboro　to
purchase　tobacco　and　newspapers　at　the　store。　　On　his　return　he
found　everything　as　it　should　be；　and　this　test　led　him　to　make
others；　each　of　which　was　successful　in　proving　John　Brown　faithful
over　a　few　things　and；　therefore；　in　time；　to　be　intrusted　with　many
and　more　important　ones。

Brown；　on　his　part；　liked　Seth。　　He　had　professed　to　like　him　during
the　conversation　at　the　breakfast　table　which　resulted　in　his
remaining　at　the　lights；　but　then　he　was　not　entirely　serious。　　He
was；　of　course；　grateful　for　the　kindness　shown　him　by　the　odd
longshoreman　and　enjoyed　the　latter's　society　and　droll　remarks　as
he　would　have　enjoyed　anything　out　of　the　ordinary　and　quaintly
amusing。　　But　now　he　really　liked　the　man。　　Seth　Atkins　was　a
countryman；　and　a　marked　contrast　to　any　individual　Brown　had　ever
met；　but　he　was　far　from　being　a　fool。　　He　possessed　a　fund　of　dry
common　sense；　and　his　comments　on　people　and　happenings　in　the
worlda　knowledge　of　which　he　derived　from　the　newspapers　and
magazines　obtained　on　his　trips　to　Eastborowere　a　constant
delight。　　And；　more　than　all；　he　respected　his　companion's　desire　to
remain　a　mystery。　　Brown　decided　that　Atkins　was；　as　he　had　jokingly
called　him；　a　man　with　a　past。　　What　that　past　might　be；　he　did　not
know　or　try　to　learn。　　〃Mind　your　own　business；〃　Seth　had　declared
to　be　the　motto　of　Eastboro　Twin…Lights；　and　that　motto　suited　both
parties　to　the　agreement。

The　lightkeeper　stood　watch　in　the　tower　at　night。　　During　most　of
the　day　he　slept；　but；　after　the　first　week　was　over；　and　his　trust
in　his　helper　became　more　firm；　he　developed　the　habit　of　rising　at
two　in　the　afternoon；　eating　a　breakfastor　dinner；　or　whatever　the
meal　might　be　calledand　wandering　off　along　the　crooked　road
leading　south　and　in　the　direction　of　Pounddug　Slough。　　The　road；
little　used　and　grass　grown；　twisted　and　turned　amid　the　dunes　until
it　disappeared　in　a　distant　grove　of　scrub　oaks　and　pitch　pines。
Each　afternoonexcept　on　Sundays　and　on　the　occasions　of　his
excursions　to　the　villageAtkins　would　rise　from　the　table；　saunter
to　the　door　to　look　at　the　weather；　and　then；　without　excuse　or
explanation；　start　slowly　down　the　road。　　For　the　first　hundred
yards　he　sauntered；　then　the　saunter　became　a　brisk　walk；　and　when
he　reached　the　edge　of　the　grove　he　was　hurrying　almost　at　a　dog
trot。　　Sometimes　he　carried　a　burden　with　him；　a　brown　paper　parcel
brought　from　Eastboro；　a　hammer；　a　saw；　or　a　coil　of　rope。　　Once　he
descended　to　the　boathouse　at　the　foot　of　the　bluff　by　the　inlet　and
emerged　bearing　a　big　bundle　of　canvas；　apparently　an　old　sail；　this
he　arranged；　with　some　difficulty；　on　his　shoulder　and　stumbled　up
the　slope；　past　the　corner　of　the　house　and　away　toward　the　grove。
Brown　watched　him　wonderingly。　　Where　was　he　going；　and　why？　　What
was　the　mysterious　destination　of　all　these　tools　and　old　junk？
Where　did　Seth　spend　his　afternoons　and　why；　when　he　returned；　did
his　hands　and　clothes　smell　of　tar？　　The　substitute　assistant　was
puzzled；　but　he　asked　no　questions。　　And　Seth　volunteered　no
solution　of　the　puzzle。

Yet　the　solution　came；　and　in　an　unexpected　way。　　Seth　drove　to　the
village　one　afternoon　and　returned　with　literature；　smoking
materials　and　an　announcement。　　The　latter　he　made　during　supper。

〃I　tried　to　buy　that　fly　paper　we　wanted　today；〃　he　observed；　as　a
preliminary。　　〃Couldn't　get　none。　　All　out。〃

〃But　will　have　some　in　very　shortly；　I　presume；〃　suggested　the
assistant；　who　knew　the　idiosyncrasies　of　country　stores。

〃Oh；　yes；　sartin！　　Expectin'　it　every　minute。　　That　store's　got　a
consider'ble　sight　more　expectations　in　it　than　it　has　anything
else。　　They're　always　six　months　ahead　of　the　season　or　behind　it　in
that　store。　　When　it's　so　c