the portygee-第10节

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at　arm's　length　and　almost　under　her　nose。　　〃Egg！　　Egg！　　EGG！　　If
you　can't　hear　it；　smell　it。　　Only　answer；　for　heaven　sakes！〃

The　effect　of　this　outburst　was　obviously　not　what　he　had　hoped。
Mrs。　Ellis　stared　first　at　the　egg　quivering　before　her　face；　then
at　the　captain。　　Then　she　rose　and　marched　majestically　to　the
kitchen。　　The　door　closed；　but　a　heartrending　sniff　drifted　in
through　the　crack。　　Olive　laid　down　her　knife　and　fork。

〃There！〃　she　exclaimed；　despairingly。　　〃Now　see　what　you've　done。
Oh；　Zelotes；　how　many　times　have　I　told　you　you've　got　to　treat　her
tactful　when　she's　this　way？〃

Captain　Lote　put　the　egg　back　in　the　bowl。

〃DAMN！〃　he　observed；　with　intense　enthusiasm。

His　wife　shook　her　head。

〃Swearin'　don't　help　it　a　mite；　either；〃　she　declared。　　〃Besides　I
don't　know　what　Albert　here　must　think　of　you。〃　　Albert；　who；
between　astonishment　and　a　wild　desire　to　laugh；　was　in　a　critical
condition；　appeared　rather　embarrassed。　　His　grandfather　looked　at
him　and　smiled　grimly。

〃I　cal'late　one　damn　won't　scare　him　to　death；〃　he　observed。
〃Maybe　he's　heard　somethin'　like　it　afore。　　Or　do　they　say；　'Oh；
sugar！'　up　at　that　school　you　come　from？〃　he　added。

Albert；　not　knowing　how　to　reply；　looked　more　embarrassed　than
ever。　　Olive　seemed　on　the　point　of　weeping。

〃Oh；　Zelotes；　how　CAN　you！〃　she　wailed。　　〃And　to…day；　of　all　days！
His　very　first　mornin'！〃

Captain　Lote　relented。

〃There；　there；　Mother！〃　he　said。　　〃I'm　sorry。　　Forget　it。　　Sorry　if
I　shocked　you；　Albert。　　There's　times　when　salt…water　language　is
the　only　thing　that　seems　to　help　me　out　。　。　。　　Well；　Mother；　what
next？　　What'll　we　do　now？〃

〃You　know　just　as　well　as　I　do；　Zelotes。　　There's　only　one　thing
you　can　do。　　That's　go　out　and　beg　her　pardon　this　minute。　　There's
a　dozen　places　she　could　get　right　here　in　South　Harniss　without
turnin'　her　hand　over。　　And　if　she　should　leave　I　don't　know　WHAT
I'd　do。〃

〃Leave！　　She　ain't　goin'　to　leave　any　more'n　than　the　ship's　cat's
goin'　to　jump　overboard。　　She's　been　here　so　long　she　wouldn't　know
how　to　leave　if　she　wanted　to。〃

〃That　don't　make　any　difference。　　The　pitcher　that　goes　to　the
wellerer〃

She　had　evidently　forgotten　the　rest　of　the　proverb。　　Her　husband
helped　her　out。

〃Flocks　together　or　gathers　no　moss；　or　somethin'；　eh？　　All　right；
Mother；　don't　fret。　　There　ain't　really　any　occasion　to；　considerin'
we've　been　through　somethin'　like　this　at　least　once　every　six
months　for　ten　years。〃

〃Zelotes；　won't　you　PLEASE　go　and　ask　her　pardon？〃

The　captain　pushed　back　his　chair。　　〃I'll　be　hanged　if　it　ain't　a
healthy　note；〃　he　grumbled；　〃when　the　skipper　has　to　go　and
apologize　to　the　cook　because　the　cook's　made　a　fool　of　herself！
I'd　like　to　know　what　kind　of　rum　Labe　drinks。　　I　never　saw　any　but
his　kind　that　would　go　to　somebody　else's　head。　　Two　people　gettin'
tight　and　only　one　of　'em　drinkin'　is　somethin'〃

He　disappeared　into　the　kitchen；　still　muttering。　　Mrs。　Snow　smiled
feebly　at　her　grandson。

〃I　guess　you　think　we're　funny　folks；　Albert；〃　she　said。　　〃But
Rachel　is　one　hired　help　in　a　thousand　and　she　has　to　be　treated
just　so。〃

Five　minutes　later　Cap'n　'Lote　returned。　　He　shrugged　his　shoulders
and　sat　down　at　his　place。

〃All　right；　Mother；　all　right；〃　he　observed。　　〃I've　been　heavin'
ile　on　the　troubled　waters　and　the　sea's　smoothin'　down。　　She'll　be
kind　and　condescendin'　enough　to　eat　with　us　in　a　minute　or　so。〃

She　was。　　She　came　into　the　dining…room　with　the　air　of　a　saint
going　to　martyrdom　and　the　remainder　of　the　meal　was　eaten　by　the
quartet　almost　in　silence。　　When　it　was　over　the　captain　said：

〃Well；　Al；　feel　like　walkin'；　do　you？〃

〃Why；　why；　yes；　sir；　I　guess　so。〃

〃Humph！　　You　don't　seem　very　wild　at　the　prospect。　　Walkin'　ain't
much　in　your　line；　maybe。　　More　used　to　autoin'；　perhaps？〃

Mrs。　Snow　put　in　a　word。　　〃Don't　talk　so；　Zelotes；〃　she　said。
〃He'll　think　you're　makin'　fun　of　him。〃

〃Who？　　Me？　　Not　a　bit　of　it。　　Well；　Al；　do　you　want　to　walk　down　to
the　lumber　yard　with　me？〃

The　boy　hesitated。　　The　quiet　note　of　sarcasm　in　his　grandfather's
voice　was　making　him　furiously　angry　once　more；　just　as　it　had　done
on　the　previous　night。

〃Do　you　want　me　to？〃　he　asked；　shortly。

〃Why；　yes；　I　cal'late　I　do。〃

Albert；　without　another　word；　walked　to　the　hat…rack　in　the　hall
and　began　putting　on　his　coat。　　Captain　Lote　watched　him　for　a
moment　and　then　put　on　his　own。

〃We'll　be　back　to　dinner；　Mother；〃　he　said。　　〃Heave　ahead；　Al；　if
you're　ready。〃

There　was　little　conversation　between　the　pair　during　the　half　mile
walk　to　the　office　and　yards　of　〃Z。　Snow　and　Co。；　Lumber　and
Builders'　Hardware。〃　　Only　once　did　the　captain　offer　a　remark。
That　was　just　as　they　came　out　by　the　big　posts　at　the　entrance　to
the　driveway。　　Then　he　said：

〃Al；　I　don't　want　you　to　get　the　idea　from　what　happened　at　the
table　just　nowthat　foolishness　about　Rachel　Ellisthat　your
grandmother　ain't　a　sensible　woman。　　She　is；　and　there's　no　better
one　on　earth。　　Don't　let　that　fact　slip　your　mind。〃

Albert；　somewhat　startled　by　the　abruptness　of　the　observation；
looked　up　in　surprise。　　He　found　the　gray　eyes　looking　down　at　him。

〃I　noticed　you　lookin'　at　her；〃　went　on　his　grandfather；　〃as　if　you
was　kind　of　wonderin'　whether　to　laugh　at　her　or　pity　her。　　You
needn't　do　either。　　She's　kind…hearted　and　that　makes　her　put　up
with　Rachel's　silliness。　　Then；　besides；　Rachel　herself　is　common
sense　and　practical　nine…tenths　of　the　time。　　It's　always　a　good
idea；　son；　to　sail　one　v'yage　along　with　a　person　before　you　decide
whether　to　class　'em　as　A。　B。　or　just　roustabout。〃

The　blood　rushed　to　the　boy's　face。　　He　felt　guilty　and　the　feeling
made　him　angrier　than　ever。

〃I　don't　see　why；〃　he　burst　out；　indignantly；　〃you　should　say　I　was
laughing　atat　Mrs。　Snow〃

〃At　your　grandmother。〃

〃Wellyesat　my　grandmother。　　I　don't　see　why　you　should　say
that。　　I　wasn't。〃

〃Wasn't　you？　　Good！　　I'm　glad　of　it。　　I　wouldn't；　anyhow。　　She's
liable　to　be　about　the　best　friend　you'll　have　in　this　world。〃

To　Albert's　mind　flashed　the　addition：　　〃Better　than　you；　that
means；〃　but　he　kept　it　to　himself。

The　lumber　yards　were　on　a　spur　track　not　very　far　from　the　railway
station　where　he　had　spent　that　miserable　half　hour　the　previous
evening。　　The　darkness　then　had　prevented　his　seeing　them。　　Not
that　he　would　have　been　greatly　interested　if　he　had　seen　them；　nor
was　he　more　interested　now；　although　his　grandfather　took　him　on　a
personally　conducted　tour　between　the　piles　of　spruce　and　pine　and
hemlock　and　pointed　out　which　was　which　and　added　further　details。
〃Those　are　two　by　fours；〃　he　said。　　Or；　〃Those　are　larger　joist；
different　sizes。〃　　〃This　is　good；　clear　stock；　as　good　a　lot　of
white　pine　as　we've　got　hold　of　for　a　long　spell。〃　　He　gave
particulars　concerning　the　〃handiest　way　to　drive　a　team〃　to　one　or
the　other　of　the　piles。　　Albert　found　it　rather　boring。　　He　longed
to　speak　concerning　enormous　lumber　yards　he　had　seen　in　New　York
or　Chicago　or　elsewhere。　　He　felt　almost　a　pitying　condescension
toward　this　provincial　grandparent　who　seemed　to　think　his　little
piles　of　〃two　by　fours〃　so　important。

It　was　much　the　same；　perhaps　a　little　worse；　when　they　entered　the
hardware　shop　and　the　office。　　The　rows　and　rows　of　little　drawers
and　boxes；　each　with　samples　of　its　contentsscrews；　or　bolts；　or
hooks；　or　knobsaffixed　to　its　front；　were　even　more　boring　than
the　lumber　piles。　　There　was　a　countryfied；　middle…aged　person　in
overalls　sweeping　out　the　shop　and　Captain　Zelotes　introduced　him。

〃Albert；〃　he　said；　〃this　is　Mr。　Issachar　Price；　who　works　around
the　place　here。　　Issy；　let　me　make　you　acquainted　with　my　grandson；
Albert。〃

Mr。　Price；　looking　over　his　spectacles；　extended　a　horny　hand　and
observed：　　〃Yus；　yus。　　Pleased　to　meet　you；　Albert。　　I've　heard
tell　of　you。〃

Albert's　private　appraisal　of　〃Issy〃　was　that　the　latter　was
another　funny　Rube。　　Whatever　Issy's　estimate　of　his　employer's
grandson　might　have　been；　he；　also；　kept　it　to　himself。

Captain　Zelotes　looked　about　the　shop　and　glanced　into　the　office。

〃Humph！〃　he　grunted。　　〃No　sign　or　symptoms　of　Laban　this　mornin'；　I
presume　likely？〃

Issachar　went　on　with　his　sweeping。

〃Nary　one；〃　was　his　laconic　reply。

〃Humph！　　Heard　anything　about　him？〃

Mr。　Price　moistened　his　broom　in　a　bucket　of　water。　　〃I　see　Tim
Kelley　on　my　way　down　street；〃　he　said。　　〃Tim　said　he　run　afoul　of
Laban　along　about　ten　last　night。　　Said　he　cal'lated　Labe　was　on
his　way。　　He　was　singin'　'Hyannis　on　the　Cape'　and　so　Tim　figgered
he'd　got　a　pretty　fair　start　already。〃

The　captain　shook　his　head。　　〃Tut；　tut；　tut！〃　he　muttered。　　〃Well；
that　means　I'll　have　to　do　office　work　for　the　next　week　or　so。
Humph！　　I　declare　it's　too　bad　just　now　when　I　was　countin'　on　him
to〃　　He　did　not　finish　the　sentence；　but　instead　turned　to　his
grandson　and　said：　　〃Al；　why　don't　you　look　around　the　hardware
store　here　while　I　open　the　mail　and　the　safe。　　If　there's　anything
you　see　you　don't　understand　Issy'll　tell　you　about　it。〃

He　went　into　the　office。　　Albert　sauntered　listlessly　to　the