the portygee-第17节

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it　every　little　while。　　I　kind　of　fit　the　folks　in　that　book　to
folks　in　real　life；　sort　of　compare　'em；　you　know。　　Do　you　ever　do
that？〃

Albert；　repressing　a　chuckle；　said；　〃Sure！〃　again。　　She　nodded。

〃Now　there's　General　Rolleson　in　that　book；〃　she　said。　　〃Do　you
know　who　he　makes　me　think　of？　　Cap'n　Lote；　your　grandpa；　that's
who。〃

General　Rolleson；　as　Albert　remembered　him；　was　an　extremely
dignified；　cultured　and　precise　old　gentleman。　　Just　what
resemblance　there　might　be　between　him　and　Captain　Zelotes　Snow；
ex…skipper　of　the　Olive　S。；　he　could　not　imagine。　　He　could　not
repress　a　grin；　and　the　housekeeper　noticed　it。

〃Seems　funny　to　you；　I　presume　likely；〃　she　said。　　〃Well；　now　you
think　about　it。　　This　General　Rolleson　man　was　kind　of　proud　and
sot　in　his　ways　just　as　your　grandpa　is；　Albert。　　He　had　a　daughter
he　thought　all　the　world　of；　so　did　Cap'n　Lote。　　Along　come　a
person　that　wanted　to　marry　the　daughter。　　In　the　book　'twas　Robert
Penfold；　who　had　been　a　convict。　　In　your　grandpa's　case；　'twas
your　pa；　who　had　been　a　play…actor。　　So　you　see〃

Albert　sat　up　on　the　sofa。　　〃Hold　on！〃　he　interrupted　indignantly。
〃Do　you　mean　to　compare　my　father　with　awith　a　CONVICT？　　I　want
you　to　understand〃

Mrs。　Ellis　held　up　the　dust…cloth。　　〃Now；　now；　now；〃　she　protested。
〃Don't　go　puttin'　words　in　my　mouth　that　I　didn't　say。　　I　don't
doubt　your　pa　was　a　nice　man；　in　his　way；　though　I　never　met　him。
But　'twan't　Cap'n　Lote's　way　any　more　than　Robert　Penfold's　was
General　Rolleson's。〃

〃My　father　was　famous；〃　declared　the　youth　hotly。　　〃He　was　one　of
the　most　famous　singers　in　this　country。　　Everybody　knows　that
that　is；　everybody　but　Grandfather　and　the　gang　down　here；〃　he
added；　in　disgust。

〃I　don't　say　you're　wrong。　　Laban　tells　me　that　some　of　those
singin'　folks　get　awful　high　wages；　more　than　the　cap'n　of　a
steamboat；　he　says；　though　that　seems　like　stretchin'　it　to　me。
But；　as　I　say；　Cap'n　Lote　was　proud；　and　nobody　but　the　best　would
satisfy　him　for　Janie；　your　mother。　　Well；　in　that　way；　you　see；　he
reminds　me　of　General　Rolleson　in　the　book。〃

〃Look　here；　Mrs。　Ellis。　　Tell　me　about　this　business　of　Dad's
marrying　my　mother。　　I　never　knew　much　of　anything　about　it。〃

〃You　didn't？　　Did　your　pa　never　tell　you？〃

〃No。〃

〃Humph！　　That's　funny。　　Still；　I　don't　know's　as　'twas；　after　all；
considerin'　you　was　only　a　boy。　　Probably　he'd　have　told　you　some
day。　　Well；　I　don't　suppose　there's　any　secret　about　it。　　'Twas
town　talk　down　here　when　it　happened。〃

She　told　him　the　story　of　the　runaway　marriage。　　Albert　listened
with　interest　and　the　almost　incredulous　amazement　with　which　the
young　always　receive　tales　of　their　parents'　love　affairs。　　Love；
for　people　of　his　age　or　a　trifle　older；　was　a　natural　and
understandable　thing；　but　for　his　father；　as　he　remembered　him；　to
have　behaved　in　this　way　was　incomprehensible。

〃So；〃　said　Rachel；　in　conclusion；　〃that's　how　it　happened。　　That's
why　Cap'n　Lote　couldn't　ever　forgive　your　father。〃

He　tossed　his　head。　　〃Well；　he　ought　to　have　forgiven　him；〃　he
declared。　　〃He　was　dead　lucky　to　get　such　a　man　for　a　son…in…law；
if　you　ask　me。〃

〃He　didn't　think　so。　　And　he　wouldn't　ever　mention　your　pa's　name。〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　doubt　that。　　Anybody　can　see　how　he　hated　Father。　　And
he　hates　me　the　same　way；〃　he　added　moodily。

Mrs。　Ellis　was　much　disturbed。　　〃Oh；　no；　he　don't；〃　she　cried。
〃You　mustn't　think　that；　Albert。　　He　don't　hate　you；　I'm　sure　of
it。　　He's　just　kind　of　doubtful　about　you；　that's　all。　　He
remembers　how　your　pa　actedor　how　he　thinks　he　actedand　so　he
can't　help　bein'　the　least　mite　afraid　the　same　thing　may　crop　out
in　you。　　If　you　just　stick　to　your　job　over　there　at　the　lumber
yards　and　keep　on　tryin'　to　please　him；　he'll　get　all　over　that
suspicion；　see　if　he　don't。　　Cap'n　Lote　Snow　is　stubborn　sometimes
and　hard　to　turn；　but　he's　square　as　a　brick。　　There's　some　that
don't　like　him；　and　a　good　many　that　don't　agree　with　himbut
everybody　respects　him。〃

Albert　did　not　answer。　　The　housekeeper　rose　from　her　chair。

〃There！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃I　don't　know　when　I've　set　down　for　so
long。　　Goodness　knows　I've　got　work　enough　to　do　without　settin'
around　talkin'。　　I　can't　think　what　possessed　me　to　do　it　this
time；　unless　'twas　seein'　you　readin'　that　book。〃　　She　paused　a
moment　and　then　said：　　〃Albert；　II　don't　want　you　and　your
grandpa　to　have　any　quarrels。　　You　seewell；　you　see；　I　used　to
know　your　mother　real　well；　andand　I　thought　an　awful　sight　of
her。　　I　wishI　do　wish　when　you　and　the　cap'n　have　any　trouble　or
anything；　or　when　you　think　you're　liable　to　have　any；　you'd　come
and　talk　it　over　with　me。　　I'm　like　the　feller　that　Laban　tells
about　in　his　dog…fight　yarn。　　This　feller　was　watchin'　the　fight
and　when　they　asked　him　to　stop　it　afore　one　or　t'other　of　the　dogs
was　killed；　he　just　shook　his　head。　　'No…o；'　he　says；　kind　of　slow
and　moderate；　'I　guess　I　shan't　interfere。　　One　of　'em's　been
stealin'　my　chickens　and　the　other　one　bit　me。　　I'm　a　friend　to
both　parties；'　he　says。　　Course　I　don't　mean　it　exactly　that　way；〃
she　added；　with　a　smile；　〃but　you　know　what　I　do　mean；　I　guess。
WILL　you　talk　things　over　with　me　sometimes；　Albert？〃

His　answer　was　not　very　enthusiastic；　but　he　said　he　guessed　so；
and　Rachel　seemed　satisfied　with　that。　　She　went　on　with　her
dusting；　and　he　with　his　reading；　but　the　conversation　was　the
first　of　many　between　the　pair。　　The　housekeeper　appeared　to
consider　his　having　read　her　beloved　Foul　Play　a　sort　of　password
admitting　him　to　her　lodge　and　that　thereafter　they　were；　in
consequence；　to　be　confidants　and　comrades。　　She　never　hesitated　to
ask　him　the　most　personal　questions　concerning　his　work；　his　plans；
the　friends　or　acquaintances　he　was　making　in　the　village。　　Some　of
those　questions　he　answered　honestly　and　fully；　some　he　dodged；
some　he　did　not　answer　at　all。　　Mrs。　Ellis　never　resented　his　not
answering。　　〃I　presume　likely　that　ain't　any　of　my　business；　is
it？〃　she　would　say；　and　ask　about　something　else。

On　the　other　hand；　she　was　perfectly　outspoken　concerning　her　own
affairs。　　He　was　nearly　overcome　with　hilarious　joy　when；　one　day；
she　admitted　that；　in　her　mind；　Robert　Penfold；　the　hero　of　Foul
Play；　lived　again　in　the　person　of　Laban　Keeler。

〃Why；　Mrs。　Ellis；〃　he　cried；　as　soon　as　he　could　trust　himself　to
speak　at　all；　〃I　don't　see　THAT。　　Penfold　was　a　six…footer；　wasn't
he？　　Andand　athletic；　you　know；　andand　a　minister；　and　young
younger；　I　meanand〃

Rachel　interrupted。　　〃Yes；　yes；　I　know；〃　she　said。　　〃And　Laban　is
little；　and　not　very　young；　and；　whatever　else　he　is；　he　ain't　a
minister。　　I　know　all　that。　　I　know　the　outside　of　him　don't　look
like　Robert　Penfold　at　all。　　But；〃　somewhat　apologetically；　〃you
see　I've　been　acquainted　with　him　so　many　years　I've　got　into　the
habit　of　seein'　his　INSIDE。　　Now　that　sounds　kind　of　ridiculous；　I
know；〃　she　added。　　〃Sounds　as　if　IIwell；　as　if　I　was　in　the
habit　of　takin'　him　apart；　like　a　watch　or　somethin'。　　What　I　mean
is　that　I　know　him　all　through。　　I've　known　him　for　a　long；　long
while。　　He　ain't　much　to　look　at；　bein'　so　little　and　sort　of　dried
up；　but　he's　got　a　big；　fine　heart　and　big　brains。　　He　can　do　'most
anything　he　sets　his　hand　to。　　When　I　used　to　know　him；　when　I　was
a　girl；　folks　was　always　prophesyin'　that　Laban　Keeler　would　turn
out　to　be　a　whole　lot　more'n　the　average。　　He　would；　too；　only　for
one　thing；　and　you　know　what　that　is。　　It's　what　has　kept　me　from
marryin'　him　all　this　time。　　I　swore　I'd　never　marry　a　man　that
drinks；　and　I　never　will。　　Why；　if　it　wasn't　for　liquor　Labe　would
have　been　runnin'　his　own　business　and　gettin'　rich　long　ago。　　He
all　but　runs　Cap'n　Lote's　place　as　'tis。　　The　cap'n　and　a　good　many
other　folks　don't　realize　that；　but　it's　so。〃

It　was　plain　that　she　worshiped　the　little　bookkeeper　and；　except
during　the　periods　of　〃vacation〃　and　〃sympathetics；〃　was
tremendously　proud　of　him。　　Albert　soon　discovered　that　Mr。
Keeler's　feeling　for　her　was　equally　strong。　　In　his　case；　though；
there　was　also　a　strong　strain　of　gratitude。

〃She's　a　fine　woman；　Al；〃　he　confided　to　his　assistant　on　one
occasion。　　〃A　fine　woman。　。　。　。　　Yes；　yes；　yes。　　They　don't
make　'em　any　finer。　　Ah　hum！　　And　not　so　long　ago　I　read　about
a　passel　of　darn　fools　arguin'　that　the　angels　in　heaven　was　all
he…ones。　。　。　。　　Umph！　。　。　。　　Sho；　sho！　　If　men　was　as　good　as　women；
AnselAlfredAlbert；　I　meanwe　could　start　an　opposition　heaven
down　here　most　any　time。　　'Most　any　timeyes；　yes。〃

It　was　considerable　for　him　to　say。　　Except　when　on　a　vacation；
Laban　was　not　loquacious。

Each　Sunday　afternoon；　when　the　weather　was　pleasant；　he　came；
dressed　in　his　best　black　cutaway；　shiny　at　elbows　and　the　under
part　of　the　sleeves；　striped　trousers　and　a　pearl　gray　soft　hat
with　a　black　band；　a　hat　which　looked　as　much　out　of　place　above
his　round；　withered　little　face　as　a　red　roof　might　have　looked　on
a　family　vault；　and　he　and　the　housekeeper　went　for　a　walk。

Rachel；　in　her　Sunday　black；　bulked　large　beside　him。　　As　Captain
Zelotes　said；　the　pair　looked　like　〃a　tug　takin'　a　liner　out　to
sea。〃