the portygee-第23节

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get　up；　perhaps　we　can　get　down。〃

〃Get　DOWN？〃

〃Yes；　it　isn't　all　as　steep　as　it　is　here。　　I　believe　we　might　sort
of　zig…zag　down　if　we　were　careful。　　You　hold　on　here　just　as　you
are；　I'm　going　to　see　what　it　looks　like　around　this　next　point。〃

The　〃point〃　was　merely　a　projection　of　the　bluff　about　twenty　feet
away。　　He　crawfished　along　the　face　of　the　slope；　until　he　could
see　beyond　it。　　Helen　kept　urging　him　to　be　carefuloh；　be
careful！

〃Of　course　I'll　be　careful；〃　he　said　curtly。　　〃I　don't　want　to
break　my　neck。　　Yesyes；　by　George；　it　IS　easier　around　there！　　We
could　get　down　a　good　way。　　Here；　here；　don't　start　until　you　take
my　hand。　　And　be　sure　your　feet　are　braced　before　you　move。　　Come
on；　now。〃

〃II　don't　believe　I　can。〃

〃Of　course　you　can。　　You've　GOT　to。　　Come　on。　　Don't　look　down。
Look　at　the　sand　right　in　front　of　you。〃

Getting　around　that　point　was　a　decidedly　ticklish　operation；　but
they　managed　it；　he　leading　the　way；　making　sure　of　his　foothold
before　moving　and　then　setting　her　foot　in　the　print　his　own　had
made。　　On　the　other　side　of　the　projection　the　slope　was　less
abrupt　and　extended　much　nearer　to　the　ground　below。　　They
zigzagged　down　until　nearly　to　the　edge　of　the　steep　drop。　　Then
Albert　looked　about　for　a　new　path　to　safety。　　He　found　it　still
farther　on。

〃It　takes　us　down　farther；〃　he　said；　〃and　there　are　bushes　to　hold
on　to　after　we　get　there。　　Come　on；　Helen！　　Brace　up　now；　be　a
sport！〃

She　was　trying　her　best　to　obey　orders；　but　being　a　sport　was　no
slight　undertaking　under　the　circumstances。　　When　they　reached　the
clump　of　bushes　her　guide　ordered　her　to　rest。

〃Just　stop　and　catch　your　breath；〃　he　said。　　〃The　rest　is　going　to
be　easier；　I　think。　　And　we　haven't　so　very　far　to　go。〃

He　was　too　optimistic。　　It　was　anything　but　easy；　in　fact；　the　last
thirty　feet　was　almost　a　tumble；　owing　to　the　clay　giving　way
beneath　their　feet。　　But　there　was　soft　sand　to　tumble　into　and
they　reached　the　beach　safe；　though　in　a　dishevelled；　scratched　and
thoroughly　smeared　condition。　　Then　Helen　sat　down　and　covered　her
face　with　her　hands。　　Her　rescuer　gazed　triumphantly　up　at　the
distant　rim　of　broken　sod　and　grinned。

〃There；　by　George！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃We　did　it；　didn't　we？　　Say；
that　was　fun！〃

She　removed　her　hands　and　looked　at　him。

〃WHAT　did　you　say　it　was？〃　she　faltered。

〃I　said　it　was　fun。　　It　was　great！　　Like　something　out　of　a　book；
eh？〃

She　began　to　laugh　hysterically。　　He　turned　to　her　in　indignant
surprise。　　〃What　are　you　laughing　at？〃　he　demanded。

〃Ohoh；　don't；　please！　　Just　let　me　laugh。　　If　I　don't　laugh　I
shall　cry；　and　I　don't　want　to　do　that。　　Just　don't　talk　to　me　for
a　few　minutes；　that's　all。〃

When　the　few　minutes　were　over　she　rose　to　her　feet。

〃Now　we　must　get　back　to　the　pavilion；　I　suppose；〃　she　said。　　〃My；
but　we　are　sights；　though！　　Do　let's　see　if　we　can't　make　ourselves
a　little　more　presentable。〃

She　did　her　best　to　wipe　off　the　thickest　of　the　clay　smears　with
her　handkerchief；　but　the　experiment　was　rather　a　failure。　　As　they
started　to　walk　back　along　the　beach　she　suddenly　turned　to　him　and
said：

〃I　haven't　told　you　howhow　much　obliged　I　am　forfor　what　you
did。　　If　you　hadn't　come；　I　don't　know　what　would　have　happened　to
me。〃

〃Oh；　that's　all　right；〃　he　answered　lightly。　　He　was　reveling　in
the　dramatic　qualities　of　the　situation。　　She　did　not　speak　again
for　some　time　and　he；　too；　walked　on　in　silence　enjoying　his　day
dream。　　Suddenly　he　became　aware　that　she　was　looking　at　him
steadily　and　with　an　odd　expression　on　her　face。

〃What　is　it？〃　he　asked。　　〃Why　do　you　look　at　me　that　way？〃

Her　answer　was；　as　usual；　direct　and　frank。

〃I　was　thinking　about　you；〃　she　said。　　〃I　was　thinking　that　I　must
have　been　mistaken；　partly　mistaken；　at　least。〃

〃Mistaken？　　About　me；　do　you　mean？〃

〃Yes；　I　had　made　up　my　mind　that　you　werewell；　one　sort　of
fellow；　and　now　I　see　that　you　are　an　entirely　different　sort。
That　is；　you've　shown　that　you　can　be　different。〃

〃What　on　earth　do　you　mean　by　that？〃

〃Why；　I　meanI　mean　　Oh；　I'm　sure　I　had　better　not　say　it。　　You
won't　like　it；　and　will　think　I　had　better　mind　my　own　affairs
which　I　should　do；　of　course。〃

〃Go　on；　say　it。〃

She　looked　at　him　again；　evidently　deliberating　whether　or　not　to
speak　her　thought。　　Then　she　said：

〃Well；　I　will　say　it。　　Not　that　it　is　really　my　business；　but
because　in　a　way　it　is　begging　your　pardon；　and　I　ought　to　do　that。
You　see；　I　had　begun　to　believe　that　you　werethat　you　werewell；
that　you　were　not　veryvery　active；　you　know。〃

〃Active？　　Say；　look　here；　Helen！　　What〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　wonder　you　don't　understand。　　I　mean　that　you　were
ratherrather　fond　of　not　doing　muchofof〃

〃Eh？　　Not　doing　much？　　That　I　was　lazy；　do　you　mean？〃

〃Why；　not　exactly　lazy；　perhaps；　butbut　　Oh；　how　CAN　I　say　just
what　I　mean！　　I　mean　that　you　were　always　saying　that　you　didn't
like　the　work　in　your　grandfather's　office。〃

〃Which　I　don't。〃

〃And　that　some　day　you　were　going　to　do　something　else。〃

Which　I　am。〃

〃Write　or　act　or　do　something〃

〃Yes；　and　that's　true；　too。〃

〃But　you　don't；　you　know。　　You　don't　do　anything。　　You've　been
talking　that　way　ever　since　I　knew　you；　calling　this　a　one…horse
town　and　saying　how　you　hated　it；　and　that　you　weren't　going　to
waste　your　life　here；　and　all　that；　but　you　keep　staying　here　and
doing　just　the　same　things。　　The　last　long　talk　we　had　together　you
told　me　you　knew　you　could　write　poems　and　plays　and　all　sorts　of
things；　you　just　felt　that　you　could。　　You　were　going　to　begin
right　away。　　You　said　that　some　months　ago；　and　you　haven't　done
any　writing　at　all。　　Now；　have　you？〃

〃No…o。　　No；　but　that　doesn't　mean　I　shan't　by　and　by。〃

〃But　you　didn't　begin　as　you　said　you　would。　　That　was　last　spring；
more　than　a　year　ago；　and　I　don't　believe　you　have　tried　to　write　a
single　poem。　　Have　you？〃

He　was　beginning　to　be　ruffled。　　It　was　quite　unusual　for　any　one；
most　of　all　for　a　girl；　to　talk　to　him　in　this　way。

〃I　don't　know　that　I　have；〃　he　said　loftily。　　〃And；　anyway；　I　don't
see　that　it　isis〃

〃My　business　whether　you　have　or　not。　　I　know　it　isn't。　　I'm　sorry
I　spoke。　　But；　you　see；　I　　Oh；　well；　never　mind。　　And　I　do　want
you　to　know　how　much　I　appreciate　your　helping　me　as　you　did　just
now。　　I　don't　know　how　to　thank　you　for　that。〃

But　thanks　were　not　exactly　what　he　wanted　at　that　moment。

〃Go　ahead　and　say　the　rest；〃　he　ordered；　after　a　short　pause。
〃You've　said　so　much　that　you　had　better　finish　it；　seems　to　me。
I'm　lazy；　you　think。　　What　else　am　I？〃

〃You're　brave；　awfully　brave；　and　you　are　so　strong　and　quickyes；
andandmasterful；　I　think　that　is　the　right　word。　　You　ordered
me　about　as　if　I　were　a　little　girl。　　I　didn't　want　to　keep　still；
as　you　told　me　to；　I　wanted　to　scream。　　And　I　wanted　to　faint；　too；
but　you　wouldn't　let　me。　　I　had　never　seen　you　that　way　before。　　I
didn't　know　you　could　be　like　that。　　That　is　what　surprises　me　so。
That　is　why　I　said　you　were　so　different。〃

Here　was　balm　for　wounded　pride。　　Albert's　chin　lifted。　　〃Oh；　that
was　nothing；〃　he　said。　　〃Whatever　had　to　be　done　must　be　done　right
off；　I　could　see　that。　　You　couldn't　hang　on　where　you　were　very
long。〃

She　shuddered。　　〃No；〃　she　replied；　〃I　could　not。　　But　_I_　couldn't
think　WHAT　to　do；　and　you　could。　　Yes；　and　did　it；　and　made　me　do
it。〃

The　chin　lifted　still　more　and　the　Speranza　chest　began　to　expand。
Helen's　next　remark　was　in　the　natures　of　a　reducer　for　the　said
expansion。

〃If　you　could　be　so　prompt　and　strong　andand　energetic　then；〃　she
said；　〃I　can't　help　wondering　why　you　aren't　like　that　all　the
time。　　I　had　begun　to　think　you　were　justjust〃

〃Lazy；　eh？〃　he　suggested。

〃Whywhy；　no…o；　but　careless　and　indifferent　and　with　not　much
ambition；　certainly。　　You　had　talked　so　much　about　writing　and　yet
you　never　tried　to　write　anything；　thatthat〃

〃That　you　thought　I　was　all　bluff。　　Thanks！　　Any　more　compliments？〃

She　turned　on　him　impulsively。　　〃Oh；　don't！〃　she　exclaimed。
〃Please　don't！　　I　know　what　I　am　saying　sounds　perfectly　horrid；
and　especially　now　when　you　have　just　saved　me　from　being　badly
hurt；　if　not　killed。　　But　don't　you　see　thatthat　I　am　saying　it
because　I　am　interested　in　you　and　sure　you　COULD　do　so　much　if　you
only　would？　　If　you　would　only　try。〃

This　speech　was　a　compound　of　sweet　and　bitter。　　Albert
characteristically　selected　the　sweet。

〃Helen；〃　he　asked；　in　his　most　confidential　tone；　〃would　you　like
to　have　me　try　and　write　something？　　Say；　would　you？〃

〃Of　course　I　would。　　Oh；　will　you？〃

〃Well；　if　YOU　asked　me　I　might。　　For　your　sake；　you　know。〃

She　stopped　and　stamped　her　foot　impatiently。

〃Oh；　DON'T　be　silly！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃I　don't　want　you　to　do　it
for　my　sake。　　I　want　you　to　do　it　for　your　own　sake。　　Yes；　and　for
your　grandfather's　sake。〃

〃My　grandfather's　sake！　　Great　Scott；　why　do　you　drag　him　in？　　HE
doesn't　want　me　to　write　poetry。〃

〃He　wants　you　to　do　something；　to　succeed。　　I　know　that。〃

〃He　wants　me　to　stay　here　and　help　Labe　Keeler　and　Issy　Price。　　He
wants　me　to　spend　all　my　life　in　that　office　of　his；　t