the portygee-第41节

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household　walked　on　tiptoe；　as　if　the　housekeeper　were　an　invalid
in　reality。　　Even　consoling　speeches　from　Albert；　who　with　Laban
when　the　latter　was　sober；　enjoyed　in　her　mind　the　distinction　of
being　the　reincarnation　of　〃Robert　Penfold；〃　brought　no　relief　to
the　suffering　Rachel。　　Nothing　but　the　news　brought　by　the　milkman；
that　〃Labe　was　taperin'　off；〃　and　would　probably　return　to　his　desk
in　a　few　days；　eased　her　pain。

One　forenoon　about　the　middle　of　the　month　Captain　Zelotes　himself
stopped　in　at　the　post　office　for　the　morning　mail。　　When　he
returned　to　the　lumber　company's　building　he　entered　quietly　and
walked　to　his　own　desk　with　a　preoccupied　air。　　For　the　half　hour
before　dinner　time　he　sat　there；　smoking　his　pipe；　and　speaking　to
no　one　unless　spoken　to。　　The　office　force　noticed　his　preoccupation
and　commented　upon　it。

〃What　ails　the　old　man；　Al？〃　whispered　Issachar；　peering　in　around
the　corner　of　the　door　at　the　silent　figure　tilted　back　in　the
revolving　chair；　its　feet　upon　the　corner　of　the　desk。　　〃Ain't　said
so　much　as　'Boo'　for　up'ards　of　twenty　minutes；　has　he？　　I　was　in
there　just　now　fillin'　up　his　ink…stand　and；　by　crimus；　I　let　a
great　big　gob　of　ink　come　down　ker…souse　right　in　the　middle　of　the
nice；　clean　blottin'　paper　in　front　of　him。　　I　held　my　breath；
cal'latin'　to　catch　what　Stephen　Peter　used　to　say　he　caught　when
he　went　fishin'　Sundays。　　Stevey　said　he　generally　caught　cold　when
he　went　and　always　caught　the　Old　Harry　when　he　got　back。　　I
cal'lated　to　catch　the　Old　Harry　part　sure；　'cause　Captain　Lote　is
always　neat　and　fussy　'bout　his　desk。　　But　no；　the　old　man　never
said　a　word。　　I　don't　believe　he　knew　the　ink　was　spilled　at　all。
What's　on　his　mind；　Al；　do　you　know？〃

Albert　did　not　know；　so　he　asked　Laban。　　Laban　shook　his　head。

〃Give　it　up；　Al；〃　he　whispered。　　〃Somethin's　happened　to　bother
him；　that's　sartin'。　　When　Cap'n　Lote　gets　his　feet　propped　up　and
his　head　tilted　back　that　way　I　can　'most　generally　cal'late　he's
doin'　some　real　thinkin'。　　Real　thinkin'yes；　sir…eeum…hmyes
yes。　　When　he　h'ists　his　boots　up　to　the　masthead　that　way　it's
safe　to　figger　his　brains　have　got　steam　up。　　Um…hmyes　indeed。〃

〃But　what　is　he　thinking　about？　　And　why　is　he　so　quiet？〃

〃I　give　up　both　riddles；　Al。　　He's　the　only　one's　got　the　answers
and　when　he　gets　ready　enough　maybe　he'll　tell　'em。　　Until　then
it'll　pay　us　fo'mast　hands　to　make　believe　we're　busy；　even　if　we
ain't。　　Hear　that；　do　you；　Is？〃

〃Hear　what？〃　demanded　Issachar；　who　was　gazing　out　of　the　window；
his　hands　in　his　pockets。

〃I　say　it　will　pay　usyou　and　Al　and　meto　make　believe　we're
workin'　even　if　we　ain't。〃

〃'Workin'！〃　indignantly。　　〃By　crimus；　I　AM　workin'！　　I　don't　have　to
make　believe。〃

〃That　so？　　Well；　then；　I'd　pick　up　that　coal…hod　and　make　believe
play　for　a　spell。　　The　fire's　'most　out。　　Almostum…hmpretty
nighyesyes。〃

Albert　and　his　grandfather　walked　home　to　dinner　together；　as　was
their　custom；　but　still　the　captain　remained　silent。　　During　dinner
he　spoke　not　more　than　a　dozen　words　and　Albert　several　times
caught　Mrs。　Snow　regarding　her　husband　intently　and　with　a　rather
anxious　look。　　She　did　not　question　him；　however；　but　Rachel　was
not　so　reticent。

〃Mercy　on　us；　Cap'n　Lote；〃　she　demanded；　〃what　IS　the　matter？
You're　as　dumb　as　a　mouthful　of　mush。　　I　don't　believe　you've　said
ay；　yes　or　no　since　we　sat　down　to　table。　　Are　you　sick？〃

Her　employer's　calm　was　unruffled。

〃No…o；〃　he　answered；　with　deliberation。

〃That's　a　comfort。　　What's　the　matter；　then；　don't　you　WANT　to
talk？〃

〃No…o。〃

〃Oh；〃　with　a　toss　of　the　head；　〃well；　I'm　glad　I　know。　　I　was
beginnin'　to　be　afraid　you'd　forgotten　how。〃

The　captain　helped　himself　to　another　fried　〃tinker〃　mackerel。

〃No　danger　of　that　around　here；　Rachel；〃　he　said　serenely。　　〃So
long　as　my　hearin's　good　I　couldn't　forgetnot　in　this　house。〃

Olive　detained　her　grandson　as　he　was　following　Captain　Zelotes
from　the　dining　room。

〃What's　wrong　with　him；　Albert？〃　she　whispered。　　〃Do　you　know？〃

〃No；　I　don't；　Grandmother。　　Do　you　think　there　is　anything　wrong？〃

〃I　know　there's　somethin'　troublin'　him。　　I've　lived　with　him　too
many　years　not　to　know　the　signs。　　Oh；　Albertyou　haven't　done
anything　to　displease　him；　have　you？〃

〃No；　indeed；　Grandmother。　　Whatever　it　is；　it　isn't　that。〃

When　they　reached　the　office；　the　captain　spoke　to　Mr。　Keeler。

〃Had　your　dinner；　Labe？〃　he　asked。

〃Yesyes；　indeed。　　Don't　take　me　long　to　eatnot　at　my　boardin'
house。　　A　feller'd　have　to　have　paralysis　to　make　eatin'　one　of
Lindy　Dadgett's　meals　take　more'n　a　half　hour。　　Um…hmyes。〃

Despite　his　preoccupation；　Captain　Zelotes　could　not　help　smiling。

〃To　make　it　take　an　hour　he'd　have　to　be　ossified；　wouldn't　he；
like　the　feller　in　the　circus　sideshow？〃　he　observed。

Laban　nodded。　　〃Thator　dead；〃　he　replied。　　〃Yesjust　aboutjust
so；　Cap'n。〃

〃Where's　Issachar？〃

〃He's　eatin'　yet；　I　cal'late。　　He　don't　board　at　Lindy's。〃

〃When　he　gets　back　set　him　to　pilin'　that　new　carload　of　spruce
under　Number　Three　shed。　　Keep　him　at　it。〃

〃Yes；　sir。　　Um…hm。　　All　right。〃

Captain　Zelotes　turned　to　his　grandson。　　〃Come　in　here；　Al；〃　he
said。　　〃I　want　to　see　you　for　a　few　minutes。〃

Albert　followed　him　into　the　inner　office。　　He　wondered　what　in　the
world　his　grandfather　wished　to　see　him　about；　in　this　very　private
fashion。

〃Sit　down；　Al；〃　said　the　captain；　taking　his　own　chair　and　pointing
to　another。　　〃Oh；　wait　a　minute；　though！　　Maybe　you'd　better　shut
that　hatch　first。〃

The　〃hatch〃　was　the　transom　over　the　door　between　the　offices。
Albert；　remembering　how　a　previous　interview　between　them　had　been
overheard　because　of　that　open　transom；　glanced　at　his　grandfather。
The　twinkle　in　the　latter's　eye　showed　that　he　too；　remembered。
Albert　closed　the　〃hatch。〃　　When　he　came　back　to　his　seat　the
twinkle　had　disappeared；　Captain　Zelotes　looked　serious　enough。

〃Well；　Grandfather？〃　queried　the　young　man；　after　waiting　a　moment。
The　captain　adjusted　his　spectacles；　reached　into　the　inside　pocket
of　his　coat　and　produced　an　envelope。　　It　was　a　square　envelope
with　either　a　trade…mark　or　a　crest　upon　the　back。　　Captain　Lote
did　not　open　the　envelope；　but　instead　tapped　his　desk　with　it　and
regarded　his　grandson　in　a　meditative　way。

〃Al；〃　he　said　slowly；　〃has　it　seemed　to　you　that　your　cruise　aboard
this　craft　of　ours　here　had　been　a　little　smoother　the　last　year　or
two　than　it　used　to　be　afore　that？〃

Albert；　by　this　time　well　accustomed　to　his　grandfather's　nautical
phraseology；　understood　that　the　〃cruise〃　referred　to　was　his
voyage　as　assistant　bookkeeper　with　Z。　Snow　and　Co。　　He　nodded。

〃I　have　tried　to　make　it　so；〃　he　answered。　　〃I　mean　I　have　tried　to
make　it　smoother　for　you。〃

〃Um…hm；　I　think　you　have　tried。　　I　don't　mind　tellin'　you　that　it
has　pleased　me　consid'ble　to　watch　you　try。　　I　don't　mean　by　that；〃
he　added；　with　a　slight　curve　of　the　lip；　〃that　you'd　win　first
prize　as　a　lightnin'…calculator　even　yet；　but　you're　a　whole　lot
better　one　than　you　used　to　be。　　I've　been　considerable　encouraged
about　you；　I　don't　mind　tellin'　you　that　either。　。　。　。　　And；〃　he
added；　after　another　interval　during　which　he　was；　apparently；
debating　just　how　much　of　an　admission　it　was　safe　to　make；　〃so　far
as　I　can　see；　this　poetry　foolishness　of　yours　hasn't　interfered
with　your　work　any　to　speak　of。〃

Albert　smiled。　　〃Thanks；　Grandfather；〃　he　said。

〃You're　welcome。　　So　much　for　that。　　But　there's　another　side　to
our　relations　together；　yours　and　mine；　that　I　haven't　spoken　of　to
you　afore。　　And　I　have　kept　still　on　purpose。　　I've　figgered　that
so　long　as　you　kept　straight　and　didn't　go　off　the　course；　didn't
drink　or　gamble；　or　go　wild　or　the　like　of　that；　what　you　did　was
pretty　much　your　own　business。　　I've　noticed　you're　considerable　of
a　feller　with　the　girls；　but　I　kept　an　eye　on　the　kind　of　girls　and
I　will　say　that　so　far　as　I　can　see；　you've　picked　the　decent　kind。
I　say　so　far　as　I　can　see。　　Of　course　I　ain't　fool　enough　to
believe　I　see　all　you　do；　or　know　all　you　do。　　I've　been　young
myself；　and　when　I　get　to　thinkin'　how　much　I　know　about　you　I　try
to　set　down　and　remember　how　much　my　dad　didn't　know　about　me　when
I　was　your　age。　　Thaterhelps　some　toward　givin'　me　my　correct
position　on　the　chart。〃

He　paused。　　Albert's　brain　was　vainly　striving　to　guess　what　all
this　meant。　　What　was　he　driving　at？　　The　captain　crossed　his　legs
and　continued。

〃I　did　think　for　a　spell；〃　he　said；　〃that　you　and　Helen　Kendall　were
gettin'　to　understand　each　other　pretty　well。　　Well；　Helen's　a　good
girl　and　your　grandma　and　I　like　her。　　Course　we　didn't　cal'late
anything　very　serious　was　liable　to　come　of　the　understandin'；　not
for　some　time；　anyhow；　for　with　your　salary　andwell；　sort　of
unsettled　prospects；　I　gave　you　credit　for　not　figgerin'　on　pickin'
a　wife　right　away。　。　。　。　　Haven't　got　much　laid　by　to　support　a　wife
on；　have　you；　Al？〃

Albert's　expression　had　changed　during　the　latter　portion　of　the
speech。　　Now　he　was　gazing　intently　at　his　grandfather　and　at　the
letter　in　the　latter's　hands。　　He　was　beginning　to　guess；　to