the portygee-第44节

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moment；　just　a　trifle　of　its　mildness　and　became　almost　keen；　as
its　owner　flashed　a　glance　at　the　big　figure　seated　at　the　desk。
〃I　see；〃　said　Mr。　Fosdick。　　〃And　have　youerguessed　what　I　did
come　to　see　you　about？〃

〃No…o。　　I　wouldn't　call　it　guessin'；　exactly。〃

〃Wouldn't　you？　　What　would　you　call　it？〃

〃We…ll；　I　don't　know　but　I'd　risk　callin'　it　knowin'。　　Yes；　I　think
likely　I　would。〃

〃Oh；　I　see。　。　。　。　　Humph！　　Have　you　had　a　letteron　the　subject？〃

〃Ye…es。〃

〃I　see。　　From　Mrs。　Fosdick；　of　course。　　She　said　she　was　going　to
writeI'm　not　sure　she　didn't　say　she　had　written；　but　I　had　the
impression　it　was　towell；　to　another　member　of　your　family；
Captain　Snow。〃

〃No；　'twas　to　me。　　Come　this　mornin's　mail。〃

〃I　see。　　My　mistake。　　Well；　I'm　obliged　to　her　in　a　way。　　If　the
news　has　been　broken　to　you；　I　shan't　have　to　break　it　and　we　can
get　down　to　brass　tacks　just　so　much　sooner。　　The　surprise　being
overI　take　it；　it　WAS　a　surprise；　Captain？〃

〃You　take　it　right。　　Just　as　much　of　a　surprise　to　me　as　you。〃

〃Of　course。　　Well；　the　surprise　being　over　for　both　of　us；　we　can
talk　of　the　affaircalmly　and　coolly。　　What　do　you　think　about　it；
Captain？〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　know　as　I　know　exactly　what　to　think。　　What　do　YOU
think　about　it；　Mr。　Fosdick？〃

〃I　thinkI　imagine　I　think　very　much　as　you　do。〃

〃I　shouldn't　he　surprised。　　Anderwhat's　your　notion　of　what　I
think？〃

Captain　Zelotes'　gray　eye　twinkled　as　he　asked　the　question；　and
the　Fosdick　blue　eye　twinkled　in　return。　　Both　men　laughed。

〃We　aren't　getting　very　far　this　way；　Captain；〃　observed　the
visitor。　　〃There's　no　use　dodging；　I　suppose。　　I；　for　one；　am　not
very　well　pleased。　　Mrs。　Fosdick；　for　another；　isn't　pleased　at
all；　she　is　absolutely　and　entirely　opposed　to　the　whole　affair。
She　won't　hear　of　it；　that's　all；　and　she　said　so　much　that　I
thought　perhaps　I　had　better　come　down　here　at　once；　see　you；　and
and　the　young　fellow　with　the　queer　name〃

〃My　grandson。〃

〃Why　yes。　　He　is　your　grandson；　isn't　he？　　I　beg　your　pardon。〃

〃That's　all　right。　　I　shan't　fight　with　you　because　you　don't　like
his　name。　　Go　ahead。　　You　decided　to　come　and　see　himand　me？〃

〃Yes；　I　did。　　I　decided　to　come　because　it　has　been　my　experience
that　a　frank；　straight　talk　is　better；　in　cases　like　this；　than　a
hundred　letters。　　And　that　the　time　to　talk　was　now；　before　matters
between　the　young　foothe　young　people　went　any　further。　　Don't
you　agree　with　me？〃

Captain　Zelotes　nodded。

〃That　now　is　a　good　time　to　talk？　　Yes；　I　do；〃　he　said。

〃Good！　　Then　suppose　we　talk。〃

〃All　right。〃

There　was　another　interval　of　silence。　　Then　Fosdick　broke　it　with
a　chuckle。　　〃And　I'm　the　one　to　do　the　talking；　eh？〃　he　said。

Captain　Lote's　eye　twinkled。　　〃We…ll；　you　came　all　the　way　from　New
York　on　purpose；　you　know；〃　he　observed。　　Then　he　added：　　〃But
there；　Mr。　Fosdick；　I　don't　want　you　to　think　I　ain't　polite　or
won't　talk；　myself。　　I'll　do　my　share　when　the　time　comes。　　But　it
does　seem　to　me　that　you　ought　to　do　yours　first　as　it's　your
family　so　far　that's　done　the　objectin'。　。　。　。　　Your　cigar's　gone
out。　　Have　another　light；　won't　you？〃

The　visitor　shook　his　head。　　〃No；　thank　you；　not　now；〃　he　said
hastily；　placing　the　defunct　cigar　carefully　on　the　captain's　desk。
〃I　won't　smoke　for　the　minute。　　So　you　want　me　to　begin　the
talking；　do　you？　　It　seems　to　me　I　have　begun　it。　　I　told　you　that
I　do　not　like　the　idea　of　my　daughter's　being　engaged　toto　say
nothing　of　marryingyour　grandson。　　My　wife　likes　it　even　less
than　I　do。　　That　is　enough　of　a　statement　to　begin　with；　isn't　it？〃

〃Why；　no；　not　exactly；　if　you'll　excuse　my　sayin'　so。　　Your
daughter　herselfhow　does　she　feel　about　it？〃

〃Oh；　she　is　enthusiastic；　naturally。　　She　appears　to　be　suffering
from　temporary　insanity　on　the　subject。〃

〃She　don't　seem　to　think　it's　quite　aserpreposterous；　and
ridiculous　and　outrageousand　Lord　knows　what　allas　your　wife
does；　eh？〃

〃No。　　I　say；　Snow；　I　hope　you're　not　too　deeply　offended　by　what
my　wife　wrote　you。　　I　judge　you　are　quoting　from　her　letter　and
apparently　she　piled　it　on　red…hot。　　You'll　have　to　excuse　her；　she
was　almost　wild　all　day　yesterday。　　I'll　ask　your　pardon　on　her
behalf。〃

〃Sho；　sho！　　No　need；　Mr。　Fosdick；　no　need　at　all。　　I　know　what
women　are；　even　the　easy…goin'　kind；　when　they've　got　steam　up。
I've　got　a　wifeand　I　had　a　daughter。　　But；　gettin'　back　on　the
course　again；　you　think　your　daughter's　crazy　because　she　wants　to
marry　my　grandson。　　Is　that　it？〃

〃Why；　no；　I　wouldn't　say　that；　exactly。　　Of　course；　I　wouldn't　say
that。〃

〃But；　you　see；　you　did　say　it。　　However；　we'll　leave　that　to　one
side　for　a　spell。　　What　objectionwhat　real　objection　is　there　to
those　two　marryin'my　grandson　and　your　daughterprovided　that
they　care　for　each　other　as　they'd　ought　to？〃

Mr。　Fosdick's　expression　changed　slightly。　　His　tone；　as　he　replied
to　the　question；　was　colder　and　his　manner　less　cordial。

〃I　don't　know　that　it　is　worth　while　answering　that　in　detail；〃　he
said；　after　an　instant's　pause。　　〃Frankly；　Captain　Snow；　I　had
rather　hoped　you　would　see；　for　yourself；　the　reasons　why　such　a
marriage　wouldn't　be　desirable。　　If　you　don't　see　them；　if　you　are
backing　up　your　grandson　in　his　business；　whywell；　there　is　no
use　in　our　discussing　the　matter　any　further；　is　there？　　We　should
only　lose　our　tempers　and　not　gain　much。　　So　we　had　better　end　it
now；　I　think。〃

He　rose　to　his　feet。　　Captain　Zelotes；　leaning　forward；　held　up　a
protesting　hand。

〃Nownow；　Mr。　Fosdick；〃　he　said　earnestly；　〃I　don't　want　you　to
misunderstand　me。　　And　I'm　sorry　if　what　I　said　has　made　you　mad。〃

Fosdick　smiled。　　〃Oh；　I'm　not　mad；〃　he　answered　cheerfully。　　〃I
make　it　a　rule　in　all　my　business　dealings　not　to　get　mad；　or；　more
especially；　not　to　let　the　other　fellow　know　that　I'm　getting　that
way。　　My　temper　hasn't　a　ruffle　in　it　just　now；　and　I　am　leaving
merely　because　I　want　it　to　remain　smooth。　　I　judge　that　you　and　I
aren't　going　to　agree。　　All　right；　then　we'll　differ；　but　we'll
differ　without　a　fight；　that's　all。　　Good　afternoon；　Captain。〃

But　Captain　Lote's　hand　still　remained　uplifted。

〃Mr。　Fosdick；〃　he　said。　　〃just　a　minute　nowjust　a　minute。　　You
never　have　met　Albert；　my　grandson；　have　you？　　Never　even　seen　him；
maybe？〃

〃No；　but　I　intend　to　meet　him　and　talk　with　him　before　I　leave
South　Harniss。　　He　was　one　of　the　two　people　I　came　here　to　meet。〃

〃And　I　was　the　other；　eh？　　Um…hm。　。　。　。　　I　see。　　You　think　you've
found　out　where　I　stand　and　now　you'll　size　him　up。　　Honest；　Mr。
Fosdick；　I　。　。　。　　Humph！　　Mind　if　I　tell　you　a　little　story？
'Twon't　take　long。　　When　I　was　a　little　shaver；　me　and　my　granddad；
the　first　Cap'n　Lote　Snowthere's　been　two　sincewere　great
chums。　　When　he　was　home　from　sea　he　and　I　stuck　together　like　hot
pitch　and　oakum。　　One　day　we　were　sittin'　out　in　the　front　yard　of
his　houseit's　mine；　nowwatchin'　a　hoptoad　catch　flies。　　You've
seen　a　toad　catch　flies；　haven't　you；　Mr。　Fosdick？　　Mr。　Toad　sits
there；　lookin'　half　asleep　and　as　pious　and　demure　as　a　pickpocket
at　camp…meetin'；　until　a　fly　comes　along　and　gets　too　near。　　Then；
Zip！　out　shoots　about　six　inches　of　toad　tongue　and　that　fly's　been
asked　in　to　dinner。　　Well；　granddad　and　I　sat　lookin'　at　our
particular　toad　when　along　came　a　bumble…bee　and　lighted　on　a
honeysuckle　blossom　right　in　front　of　the　critter。　　The　toad　didn't
take　time　to　think　it　over；　all　he　saw　was　a　square　meal；　and　his
tongue　flashed　out　and　nailed　that　bumble…bee　and　snapped　it　into
the　pantry。　　In　about　a　half　second；　though；　there　was　a　change。
The　pantry　had　been　emptied；　the　bumble…bee　was　on　his　way　again；
and　Mr。　Toad　was　on　his；　hoppin'　lively　and　huntin'　forwell；　for
ice　water　or　somethin'　coolin'；　I　guess　likely。　　Granddad　tapped　me
on　the　shoulder。　　'Sonny；'　says　he；　'there's　a　lesson　for　you。
That　hoptoad　didn't　wait　to　make　sure　that　bumble…bee　was　good　to
eat；　he　took　it　for　granted；　and　was　sorry　afterward。　　It　don't　pay
to　jump　at　conclusions；　son；'　he　says。　　'Some　conclusions　are　like
that　bumble…bee's；　they　have　stings　in　'em。'〃

Captain　Lote；　having　finished　his　story；　felt　in　his　pocket　for
a　match。　　Fosdick；　for　an　instant；　appeared　puzzled。　　Then　he
laughed。

〃I　see；〃　he　said。　　〃You　think　I　made　too　quick　a　jump　when　I
concluded　you　were　backing　your　grandson　in　this　affair。　　All
right；　I'm　glad　to　hear　it。　　What　do　you　want　me　to　do；　sit　down
again　and　listen？〃

He　resumed　his　seat　as　he　asked　the　question。　　Captain　Zelotes
nodded。

〃If　you　don't　mind；〃　he　answered。　　〃You　see；　you　misunderstood　me；
Mr。　Fosdick。　　I　didn't　mean　any　more　than　what　I　said　when　I　asked
you　what　real　objection　there　was；　in　your　opinion　to　Albert's
marryin'　yourerMadeline；　that's　her　name；　I　believe。　　Seems　to
me　the　way　for　us　to　get　to　an　understandin'you　and　Iis　to　find
out　just　how　the　situation　looks　to　each　of　us。　　When　we've　found
out　that；　we'll　know　how　nigh　we　come　to　agreein'　or　disagreein'
and　can　act　accordin'。　　Sounds　reasonable；　don't　it？〃

Fosdick　nodded　in　his　turn。　　〃Perfectly；〃　he　admitted。　　〃Well；　ask
your　questions；　and　I'll　answer　them。　　After　that