the portygee-第27节

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and　answered　over　his　shoulder；　〃I'm　going　home；〃　he　said。

〃Goin'　HOME？　　Why；　you　came　from　home　not　more　than　an　hour　and　a
half　ago！　　What　are　you　goin'　there　again　now　for？〃

〃To　pack　up　my　things。〃

〃To　pack　up　your　things！　　To　pack　up　　Humph！　　So　you　really　mean
it！　　You're　really　goin'　to　quit　me　like　this？　　And　your　grandma；
too！〃

The　young　man　felt　a　sudden　pang　of　compunction；　a　twinge　of
conscience。

〃Grandfather；〃　he　said；　〃I'm　sorry。　　I〃

But　the　change　in　his　attitude　and　tone　came　too　late。　　Captain
Lote's　temper　was　boiling　now；　contradiction　was　its　worst
provocative。

〃Goin'　to　quit！〃　he　sneered。　　〃Goin'　to　quit　because　you　don't　like
to　work。　　All　right；　quit　then！　　Go　ahead！　　I've　done　all　I　can　to
make　a　man　of　you。　　Go　to　the　devil　in　your　own　way。〃

〃Grandfather；　I〃

〃Go　ahead！　　_I_　can't　stop　you。　　It's　in　your　breed；　I　cal'late。〃

That　was　sufficient。　　Albert　strode　out　of　the　private　office；　head
erect。　　Captain　Zelotes　rose　and　slammed　the　door　after　his
departing　grandson。

At　ten　that　evening　Albert　was　in　his　room；　sitting　in　a　chair　by
the　window；　gloomily　looking　out。　　The　packing；　most　of　it；　had
been　done。　　He　had　not；　as　he　told　his　grandfather　he　intended
doing；　left　the　office　immediately　and　come　straight　home　to　pack。
As　he　emerged　from　the　inner　office　after　the　stormy　interview　with
the　captain　he　found　Laban　Keeler　hard　at　work　upon　the　books。　　The
sight　of　the　little　man；　so　patiently　and　cheerfully　pegging　away；
brought　another　twinge　of　conscience　to　the　assistant　bookkeeper。
Laban　had　been　such　a　brick　in　all　their　relationships。　　It　must
have　been　a　sore　trial　to　his　particular；　business…like　soul；　those
errors　in　the　trial　balance。　　Yet　he　had　not　found　fault　nor
complained。　　Captain　Zelotes　himself　had　said　that　every　item
concerning　his　grandson's　mistakes　and　blunders　had　been　dragged
from　Mr。　Keeler　much　against　the　latter's　will。　　Somehow　Albert
could　not　bear　to　go　off　and　leave　him　at　once。　　He　would　stay　and
finish　his　day's　work；　for　Labe　Keeler's　sake。

So　stay　he　did　and　when　Captain　Zelotes　later　came　out　of　his
private　office　and　found　him　there　neither　of　them　spoke。　　At　home；
during　supper；　nothing　was　said　concerning　the　quarrel　of　the
afternoon。　　Yet　Albert　was　as　determined　to　leave　as　ever；　and　the
Captain；　judging　by　the　expression　of　his　face；　was　just　as
determined　to　do　nothing　more　to　prevent　him。　　After　supper　the
young　man　went　to　his　room　and　began　the　packing。　　His　grandfather
went　out；　an　unusual　proceeding　for　him；　saying　that　he　guessed　he
would　go　down　street　for　a　spell。

Now　Albert；　as　he　sat　there　by　the　window；　was　gloomy　enough。　　The
wind；　howling　and　wailing　about　the　gables　of　the　old　house；　was
not　an　aid　to　cheerfulness　and　he　needed　every　aid。　　He　had　sworn
to　go　away；　he　was　going　awaybut　where　should　he　go？　　He　had　a
little　money　put　by；　not　much　but　a　little；　which　he　had　been
saving　for　quite　another　purpose。　　This　would　take　him　a　little
way；　would　pay　his　bills　for　a　short　time；　but　after　that　　Well；
after　that　he　could　earn　more。　　With　the　optimism　of　youth　and　the
serene　self…confidence　which　was　natural　to　him　he　was　sure　of
succeeding　sooner　or　later。　　It　was　not　the　dread　of　failure　and
privation　which　troubled　him。　　The　weight　which　was　pressing　upon
his　spirit　was　not　the　fear　of　what　might　happen　to　him。

There　was　a　rap　upon　the　door。　　Then　a　voice；　the　housekeeper's
voice；　whispered　through　the　crack。

〃It's　me；　Al；〃　whispered　Mrs。　Ellis。　　〃You　ain't　in　bed　yet；　are
you？　　I'd　like　to　talk　with　you　a　minute　or　two；　if　I　might。〃

He　was　not　anxious　to　talk　to　her　or　anyone　else　just　then；　but　he
told　her　to　come　in。　　She　entered　on　tiptoe；　with　the　mysterious
air　of　a　conspirator；　and　shut　the　door　carefully　after　her。

〃May　I　set　down　just　a　minute？〃　she　asked。　　〃I　can　generally　talk
better　settin'。〃

He　pulled　forward　the　ancient　rocker　with　the　rush　seat。　　The
cross…stitch　〃tidy〃　on　the　back　was　his　mother's　handiwork；　she　had
made　it　when　she　was　fifteen。　　Rachel　sat　down　in　the　rocker。

〃Al〃　she　began；　still　in　the　same　mysterious　whisper；　〃I　know　all
about　it。〃

He　looked　at　her。　　〃All　about　what？〃　he　asked。

〃About　the　trouble　you　and　Cap'n　Lote　had　this　afternoon。　　I　know
you're　plannin'　to　leave　us　all　and　go　away　somewheres　and　that　he
told　you　to　go；　and　all　that。　　I　know　what　you've　been　doin'　up
here　to…night。　　Fur's　that　goes；〃　she　added；　with　a　little　catch　in
her　breath　and　a　wave　of　her　hand　toward　the　open　trunk　and
suitcase　upon　the　floor；　〃I　wouldn't　need　to　know；　I　could　SEE。〃

Albert　was　surprised　and　confused。　　He　had　supposed　the　whole
affair　to　be；　so　far；　a　secret　between　himself　and　his　grandfather。

〃You　know？〃　he　stammered。　　〃You　　How　did　you　know？〃

〃Laban　told　me。　　Labe　came　hurryin'　over　here　just　after　supper　and
told　me　the　whole　thing。　　He's　awful　upset　about　it；　Laban　is。　　He
thinks　almost　as　much　of　you　as　he　does　of　Cap'n　Lote　oror　me；〃
with　an　apologetic　little　smile。

Albert　was　astonished　and　troubled。　　〃How　did　Labe　know　about　it？〃
he　demanded。

〃He　heard　it　all。　　He　couldn't　help　hearin'。〃

〃But　he　couldn't　have　heard。　　The　door　to　the　private　office　was
shut。〃

〃Yes；　but　the　window　at　the　topthe　transom　one；　you　knowwas
wide　open。　　You　and　your　grandpa　never　thought　of　that；　I　guess；
and　Laban　couldn't　hop　up　off　his　stool　and　shut　it　without　givin'
it　away　that　he'd　been　hearin'。　　So　he　had　to　just　set　and　listen
and　I　know　how　he　hated　doin'　that。　　Laban　Keeler　ain't　the
listenin'　kind。　　One　thing　about　it　all　is　a　mercy；〃　she　added；
fervently。　　〃It's　the　Lord's　own　mercy　that　that　Issy　Price　wasn't
where　HE　could　hear　it；　too。　　If　Issy　heard　it　you　might　as　well
paint　it　up　on　the　town…hall　fence；　all　creation　and　his　wife
wouldn't　larn　it　any　sooner。〃

Albert　drew　a　long　breath。　　〃Well；〃　he　said；　after　a　moment；　〃I'm
sorry　Labe　heard；　but　I　don't　suppose　it　makes　much　difference。
Everyone　will　know　all　about　it　in　a　day　or　two　。　。　。　　I'm　going。〃

Rachel　leaned　forward。

〃No；　you　ain't；　Al；〃　she　said。

〃I'm　not？　　Indeed　I　am！　　Why；　what　do　you　mean？〃

〃I　mean　just　what　I　say。　　You　ain't　goin'。　　You're　goin'　to　stay
right　here。　　At　least　I　hope　you　are；　and　I　THINK　you　are。　。　。　。
Oh；　I　know；〃　she　added；　quickly；　〃what　you　are　goin'　to　say。
You're　goin'　to　tell　me　that　your　grandpa　is　down　on　you　on　account
of　your　father；　and　that　you　don't　like　bookkeepin'；　and　that　you
want　to　write　poetry　andand　such。　　You'll　say　all　that；　and　maybe
it's　all　true；　but　whether　'tis　or　not　ain't　the　point　at　all　just
now。　　The　real　point　is　that　you're　Janie　Snow's　son　and　your
grandpa's　Cap'n　Lote　Snow　and　your　grandma's　Olive　Snow　and　there
ain't　goin'　to　be　another　smash…up　in　this　family　if　I　can　help　it。
I've　been　through　one　and　one's　enough。　　Albert；　didn't　you　promise
me　that　Sunday　forenoon　three　years　ago　when　I　came　into　the
settin'…room　and　we　got　talkin'　about　books　and　Robert　Penfold　and
everythingdidn't　you　promise　me　then　that　when　things　between　you
and　your　grandpa　got　kind　ofof　snarled　up　and　full　of　knots　you'd
come　to　me　with　'em　and　we'd　see　if　we　couldn't　straighten　'em　out
together？　　Didn't　you　promise　me　that；　Albert？〃

Albert　remembered　the　conversation　to　which　she　referred。　　As　he
remembered　it；　however；　he　had　not　made　any　definite　promise。

〃You　asked　me　to　talk　them　over　with　you；　Rachel；〃　he　admitted。　　〃I
think　that's　about　as　far　as　it　went。〃

〃Well；　maybe　so；　but　now　I　ask　you　again。　　Will　you　talk　this　over
with　me；　Albert？　　Will　you　tell　me　every　bit　all　about　it；　for　my
sake？　　And　for　your　grandma's　sake。　。　。　。　　Yes；　more'n　that；　for
your　mother's　sake；　Albert；　she　was　pretty　nigh　like　my　own　sister；
Jane　Snow　was。　　Different　as　night　from　day　of　course；　she　was
pretty　and　educated　and　all　that　and　I　was　just　the　same　then　as　I
am　now；　but　we　did　think　a　lot　of　each　other；　Albert。　　Tell　me　the
whole　story；　won't　you；　please。　　Just　what　Cap'n　Lote　said　and　what
you　said　and　what　you　plan　to　doand　all？　　Please；　Albert。〃

There　were　tears　in　her　eyes。　　He　had　always　liked　her；　but　it　was
a　liking　with　a　trace　of　condescension　in　it。　　She　was　peculiar；
her　〃sympathetic　attacks〃　were　funny；　and　she　and　Laban　together
were　an　odd　pair。　　Now　he　saw　her　in　a　new　light　and　he　felt　a
sudden　rush　of　real　affection　for　her。　　And　with　this　feeling；　and
inspired　also　by　his　loneliness；　came　the　impulse　to　comply　with
her　request；　to　tell　her　all　his　troubles。

He　began　slowly　at　first；　but　as　he　went　on　the　words　came　quicker。
She　listened　eagerly；　nodding　occasionally；　but　saying　nothing。
When　he　had　finished　she　nodded　again。

〃I　see；〃　she　said。　　〃'Twas　almost　what　Laban　said　and　about　what　he
and　I　expected。　　Well；　Albert；　I　ain't　goin'　to　be　the　one　to　blame
you；　not　very　much　anyhow。　　I　don't　see　as　you　are　to　blame；　you
can't　help　the　way　you're　made。　　But　your　grandfather　can't　help
bein'　made　his　way；　either。　　He　can't　see　with　your　spectacles　and
you　can't　see　with　his。〃

He　stirred　rebelliously。　　〃Then　we　had　better　go　our　own　ways；　I
should　say；〃　he　muttered。

〃No；　you　hadn't。　　Th