the portygee-第3节

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at　the　door　and　the　house　of　which　it　was　a　part；　afterward
settling　back　to　announce　triumphantly：　　〃And　here　we　be！　　Yes；
sir；　here　we　be！〃

Then　the　door　opened。　　A　flood　of　lamplight　poured　upon　the　buggy
and　its　occupants。　　And　the　boy　saw　two　people　standing　in　the
doorway；　a　man　and　a　woman。

It　was　the　woman　who　spoke　first。　　It　was　she　who　had　opened　the
door。　　The　man　was　standing　behind　her　looking　over　her　shoulder
over　her　head　really；　for　he　was　tall　and　broad　and　she　short　and
slender。

〃Is　it？〃　she　faltered。

Mr。　Keeler　answered。　　〃Yes；　ma'am；〃　he　declared　emphatically；
〃that's　who　'tis。　　Here　we　beererwhat's…your…nameEdward。
Jump　right　out。〃

His　passenger　alighted　from　the　buggy。　　The　woman　bent　forward　to
look　at　him；　her　hands　clasped。

〃Itit's　Albert；　isn't　it？〃　she　asked。

The　boy　nodded。　　〃Yes；〃　he　said。

The　hands　unclasped　and　she　held　them　out　toward　him。　　〃Oh；
Albert；〃　she　cried；　〃I'm　your　grandmother。　　I〃

The　man　interrupted。　　〃Wait　till　we　get　him　inside；　Olive；〃　he
said。　　〃Come　in；　son。〃　　Then；　addressing　the　driver；　he　ordered：
〃Labe；　take　the　horse　and　team　out　to　the　barn　and　unharness　for
me；　will　you？〃

〃Ye…es；　yes；　yes；〃　replied　Mr。　Keeler。　　〃Yes　indeed；　Cap'n。　　Take
her　right　alongright　off。　　Yes　indeedy。　　Git　dap！〃

He　drove　off　toward　the　end　of　the　yard；　where　a　large　building；
presumably　a　barn；　loomed　black　against　the　dark　sky。　　He　sang　as
he　drove　and　the　big　man　on　the　step　looked　after　him　and　sniffed
suspiciously。

Meanwhile　the　boy　had　followed　the　little　woman　into　the　house
through　a　small　front　hall；　from　which　a　narrow　flight　of　stairs
shot　aloft　with　almost　unbelievable　steepness；　and　into　a　large
room。　　Albert　had　a　swift　impression　of　big　windows　full　of　plants；
of　pictures　of　ships　and　schooners　on　the　walls；　of　a　table　set　for
four。

〃Take　your　things　right　off；〃　cried　his　grandmother。　　〃Here；　I'll
take　'em。　　There！　now　turn　'round　and　let　me　look　at　you。　　Don't
move　till　I　get　a　good　look。〃

He　stood　perfectly　still　while　she　inspected　him　from　head　to　foot。

〃You've　got　her　mouth；〃　she　said　slowly。　　〃Yes；　you've　got　her
mouth。　　Her　hair　and　eyes　were　brown　and　yours　are　black；　butbut
I　THINK　you　look　like　her。　　Oh；　I　did　so　want　you　to！　　May　I　kiss
you；　Albert？　　I'm　your　grandmother；　you　know。〃

With　embarrassed　shyness　he　leaned　forward　while　she　put　her　arms
about　his　neck　and　kissed　him　on　the　cheek。　　As　he　straightened
again　he　became　aware　that　the　big　man　had　entered　the　room　and　was
regarding　him　intently　beneath　a　pair　of　shaggy　gray　eyebrows。
Mrs。　Snow　turned。

〃Oh；　Zelotes；〃　she　cried；　〃he's　got　Janie's　mouth；　don't　you　think
so？　　And　he　DOES　look　like　her；　doesn't　he？〃

Her　husband　shook　his　head。　　〃Maybe　so；　Mother；〃　he　said；　with　a
half　smile。　　〃I　ain't　a　great　hand　for　locatin'　who　folks　look
like。　　How　are　you；　boy？　　Glad　to　see　you。　　I'm　your　grandfather；
you　know。〃

They　shook　hands；　while　each　inspected　and　made　a　mental　estimate
of　the　other。　　Albert　saw　a　square；　bearded　jaw；　a　firm　mouth；　gray
eyes　with　many　wrinkles　at　the　corners；　and　a　shock　of　thick　gray
hair。　　The　eyes　had　a　way　of　looking　straight　at　you；　through　you；
as　if　reading　your　thoughts；　divining　your　motives　and　making　a
general　appraisal　of　you　and　them。

Captain　Zelotes　Snow；　for　his　part；　saw　a　tall　young　fellow；　slim
and　straight；　with　black　curly　hair；　large　black　eyes　and　regular
features。　　A　good…looking　boy；　a　handsome　boyalmost　too　handsome；
perhaps；　or　with　just　a　touch　of　the　effeminate　in　the　good　looks。
The　captain's　glance　took　in　the　well…fitting　suit　of　clothes；　the
expensive　tie；　the　gold　watch　chain。

〃Humph！〃　grunted　Captain　Zelotes。　　〃Well；　your　grandma　and　I　are
glad　to　have　you　with　us。　　Let　me　see；　Albertthat's　your　right
name；　ain't　itAlbert？〃

Something　in　his　grandfather's　looks　or　tone　aroused　a　curious
feeling　in　the　youth。　　It　was　not　a　feeling　of　antagonism；　exactly；
but　more　of　defiance；　of　obstinacy。　　He　felt　as　if　this　big　man；
regarding　him　so　keenly　from　under　the　heavy　brows；　was　looking　for
faults；　was　expecting　to　find　something　wrong；　might　almost　be
disappointed　if　he　did　not　find　it。　　He　met　the　gaze　for　a　moment；
the　color　rising　to　his　cheeks。

〃My　name；〃　he　said　deliberately；　〃is　Alberto　Miguel　Carlos
Speranza。〃

Mrs。　Snow　uttered　a　little　exclamation。　　〃Oh！〃　she　ejaculated。　　And
then　added：　　〃Whywhy；　I　thoughtwewe　understood　'twas
'Albert。'　　We　didn't　know　there　waswe　didn't　know　there　was　any
more　to　it。　　What　did　you　say　it　was？〃

Her　grandson　squared　his　shoulders。　　〃Alberto　Miguel　Carlos
Speranza；〃　he　repeated。　　〃My　father〃there　was　pride　in　his　voice
now〃my　father's　name　was　Miguel　Carlos。　　Of　course　you　knew
that。〃

He　spoke　as　if　all　creation　must　have　known　it。　　Mrs。　Snow　looked
helplessly　at　her　husband。　　Captain　Zelotes　rubbed　his　chin。

〃Well；〃　he　drawled　dryly；　〃I　guess　likely　we'll　get　along　with
'Albert'　for　a　spell。　　I　cal'late　'twill　come　more　handy　to　us　Cape
folks。　　We're　kind　of　plain　and　everyday　'round　here。　　Sapper's
ready；　ain't　it；　Mother？　　Al　must　be　hungry。　　I'm　plaguey　sure　_I_
am。〃

〃But；　Zelotes；　maybe　he'd　like　to　go　up　to　his　bedroom　first。　　He's
been　ridin'　a　long　ways　in　the　cars　and　maybe　he'd　like　to　wash　up
or　change　his　clothes？〃

〃Change　his　clothes！　　Lord　sakes；　Olive；　what　would　he　want　to
change　his　clothes　this　time　of　night　for？　　You　don't　want　to
change　your　clothes；　do　you；　boy？〃

〃No；　sir；　I　guess　not。〃

〃Sartin　sure　you　don't。　　Want　to　wash？　　There's　a　basin　and　soap
and　towel　right　out　there　in　the　kitchen。〃

He　pointed　to　the　kitchen　door。　　At　that　moment　the　door　was
partially　opened　and　a　brisk　feminine　voice　from　behind　it
inquired：　　〃How　about　eatin'？　　Are　you　all　ready　in　there？〃

It　was　Captain　Snow　who　answered。

〃You　bet　we　are；　Rachel！〃　he　declared。　　〃All　ready　and　then　some。
Trot　her　out。　　Sit　down；　Mother。　　Sit　down；　Al。　　Now　then；　Rachel；
all　aboard。〃

Rachel；　it　appeared；　was　the　owner　of　the　brisk　feminine　voice　just
mentioned。　　She　was　brisk　herself；　as　to　age　about　forty；　plump；
rosy　and　very　business…like。　　She　whisked　the　platter　of　fried
mackerel　and　the　dishes　of　baked　potatoes；　stewed　corn；　hot
biscuits　and　all　the　rest；　to　the　table　is　no　time；　and　then；　to
Albert's　astonishment；　sat　down　at　that　table　herself。　　Mrs。　Snow
did　the　honors。

〃Albert；〃　she　said；　〃this　is　Mrs。　Ellis；　who　helps　me　keep　house。
Rachel；　this　is　my　grandson；　AlberterSperanza。〃

She　pronounced　the　surname　in　a　tone　almost　apologetic。　　Mrs。　Ellis
did　not　attempt　to　pronounce　it。　　She　extended　a　plump　hand　and
observed：　　〃Is　that　so？　　Real　glad　to　know　you；　Albert。　　How　do　you
think　you're　goin'　to　like　South　Harniss？〃

Considering　that　his　acquaintance　with　the　village　had　been　so
decidedly　limited；　Albert　was　somewhat　puzzled　how　to　reply。　　His
grandfather　saved　him　the　trouble。

〃Lord　sakes；　Rachel；〃　he　declared；　〃he　ain't　seen　more'n　three
square　foot　of　it　yet。　　It's　darker'n　the　inside　of　a　nigger's
undershirt　outdoors　to…night。　　Well；　AlAlbert；　I　mean；　how　are
you　on　mackerel？　　Pretty　good　stowage　room　below　decks？　　About　so
much；　eh？〃

Mrs。　Snow　interrupted。

〃Zelotes；〃　she　said　reprovingly；　〃ain't　you　forgettin'　somethin'？〃

〃Eh？　　Forgettin'？　　Heavens　to　Betsy；　so　I　am！　　Lord；　we　thank　thee
for　these　and　all　other　gifts；　Amen。　　What　did　I　do　with　the　fork；
swallow　it？〃

As　long　as　he　lives　Albert　Speranza　will　not　forget　that　first　meal
in　the　home　of　his　grandparents。　　It　was　so　strange；　so　different
from　any　other　meal　he　had　ever　eaten。　　The　food　was　good　and　there
was　an　abundance　of　it；　but　the　surroundings　were　so　queer。
Instead　of　the　well…ordered　and　sedate　school　meal；　here　all　the
eatables　from　fish　to　pie　were　put　upon　the　table　at　the　same　time
and　the　servantor　housekeeper；　which　to　his　mind　were　one　and　the
samesat　down；　not　only　to　eat　with　the　family；　but　to　take　at
least　an　equal　part　in　the　conversation。　　And　the　conversation
itself　was　so　different。　　Beginning　with　questions　concerning　his
own　journey　from　the　New　York　town　where　the　school　was　located；　it
at　length　reached　South　Harniss　and　there　centered　about　the
diminutive　person　of　Laban　Keeler；　his　loquacious　and　tuneful
rescuer　from　the　platform　of　the　railway　station。

〃Where　are　your　things；　Albert？〃　asked　Mrs。　Snow。　　〃Your　trunk　or
travelin'　bag；　or　whatever　you　had；　I　mean？〃

〃My　trunks　are　coming　by　express；〃　began　the　boy。　　Captain　Zelotes
interrupted　him。

〃Your　trunks？〃　he　repeated。　　〃Got　more'n　one；　have　you？〃

〃Whywhy；　yes；　there　are　three。　　Mr。　Holdenhe　is　the　headmaster；
you　know〃

〃Eh？　　Headmaster？　　Oh；　you　mean　the　boss　teacher　up　there　at　the
school？　　Yes；　yes。　　Um…hm。〃

〃Yes；　sir。　　Mr。　Holden　says　the　trunks　should　get　here　in　a　few
days。〃

Mrs。　Ellis；　the　housekeeper；　made　the　next　remark。　　〃Did　I
understand　you　to　say　you　had　THREE　trunks？〃　she　demanded。

〃Why；　yes。〃

〃Three　trunks　for　one　boy！　　For　mercy　sakes；　what　have　you　got　in
'em？〃

〃Whywhy；　my　things。　　My　clothes　andandeverything。〃

〃Everything；　or　just　about；　I　should　say。　　Goodness　gracious　me；
when　I　go　up　to　Boston　I　have　all　I