the portygee-第67节

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So　to　prayer　meeting　she　went；　with　Mrs。　Ellis　as　escort；　and　her
husband　and　grandson；　seated　in　armchairs　before　the　sitting　room
stove；　both　smoking；　talked　and　talked；　of　the　past　and　of　the
futurenot　as　man　to　boy；　nor　as　grandparent　to　grandson；　but　for
the　first　time　as　equals；　without　reservations；　as　man　to　man。



CHAPTER　XVIII


The　next　morning　Albert　met　old　Mr。　Kendall。　　After　breakfast
Captain　Zelotes　had　gone；　as　usual；　directly　to　the　office。　　His
grandson；　however；　had　not　accompanied　him。

〃What　are　you　cal'latin'　to　do　this　mornin'；　Al？〃　inquired　the
captain。

〃Oh；　I　don't　know　exactly；　Grandfather。　　I'm　going　to　look　about
the　place　a　bit；　write　a　letter　to　my　publishers；　and　take　a　walk；
I　think。　　You　will　probably　see　me　at　the　office　pretty　soon。　　I'll
look　in　there　by　and　by。〃

〃Ain't　goin'　to　write　one　or　two　of　those　five　hundred　dollar
stories　before　dinner　time；　are　you？〃

〃I　guess　not；　sir。　　I'm　afraid　they　won't　be　written　as　quickly　as
all　that。〃

Captain　Lote　shook　his　head。　　〃Godfreys！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃it　ain't
the　writin'　of　'em　I'd　worry　about　so　much　as　the　gettin'　paid　for
'em。　　You're　sure　that　editor　man　ain't　crazy；　you　say？〃

〃I　hope　he　isn't。　　He　seemed　sane　enough　when　I　saw　him。〃

〃Well；　I　don't　know。　　It's　live　and　learn；　I　suppose；　but　if
anybody　but　you　had　told　me　that　magazine　folks　paid　as　much　as
five　hundred　dollars　a　piece　for　yarns　made　up　out　of　a　feller's
head　without　a　word　of　truth　in　'em；　I'dwell；　I　should　have　told
the　feller　that　told　me　to　go　to　a　doctor　right　off　and　have　HIS
head　examined。　　Butwell；　as　'tis　I　cal'late　I'd　better　have　my
own　looked　at。　　So　long；　Al。　　Come　in　to　the　office　if　you　get　a
chance。〃

He　hurried　out。　　Albert　walked　to　the　window　and　watched　the　sturdy
figure　swinging　out　of　the　yard。　　He　wondered　if；　should　he　live　to
his　grandfather's　age；　his　step　would　be　as　firm　and　his　shoulders
as　square。

Olive　laid　a　hand　on　his　arm。

〃You　don't　mind　his　talkin'　that　way　about　your　writin'　those
stories；　do　you；　Albert？〃　she　asked；　a　trace　of　anxiety　in　her
tone。　　〃He　don't　mean　it；　you　know。　　He　don't　understand　itsays
he　don't　himselfbut　he's　awful　proud　of　you；　just　the　same。　　Why；
last　night；　after　you　and　he　had　finished　talkin'　and　he　came　up　to
bedand　the　land　knows　what　time　of　night　or　mornin'　THAT　washe
woke　me　out　of　a　sound　sleep　to　tell　me　about　that　New　York
magazine　man　givin'　you　a　written　order　to　write　six　stories　for
his　magazine　at　five　hundred　dollars　a　piece。　　Zelotes　couldn't
seem　to　get　over　it。　　'Think　of　it；　Mother；'　he　kept　sayin'。
'Think　of　it！　　Pretty　nigh　twice　what　I　pay　as　good　a　man　as　Labe
Keeler　for　keepin'　books　a　whole　year。　　And　Al　says　he　ought　to　do
a　story　every　forni't。　　I　used　to　jaw　his　head　off；　tellin'　him　he
was　on　the　road　to　starvation　and　all　that。　　Tut；　tut；　tut！
Mother；　I've　waited　a　long　time　to　say　it；　but　it　looks　as　if　you
married　a　fool。'　。　。　。　　That's　the　way　he　talked；　but　he's　a　long
ways　from　bein'　a　fool；　your　grandfather　is；　Albert。〃

Albert　nodded。　　〃No　one　knows　that　better　than　I；〃　he　said；　with
emphasis。

〃There's　one　thing；〃　she　went　on；　〃that　kind　of　troubled　me。　　He
said　you　was　goin'　to　insist　on　payin'　board　here　at　home。　　Now　you
know　this　house　is　yours。　　And　we　love　to〃

He　put　his　arm　about　her。　　〃I　know　it；　Grandmother；〃　he　broke　in；
quickly。　　〃But　that　is　all　settled。　　I　am　going　to　try　to　make　my
own　living　in　my　own　way。　　I　am　going　to　write　and　see　what　I　am
really　worth。　　I　have　my　royalty　money；　you　know；　most　of　it；　and　I
have　this　order　for　the　series　of　stories。　　I　can　afford　to　pay　for
my　keep　and　I　shall。　　You　see；　as　I　told　Grandfather　last　night；　I
don't　propose　to　live　on　his　charity　any　more　than　on　Mr。　Fosdick's。〃

She　sighed。

〃So　Zelotes　said；〃　she　admitted。　　〃He　told　me　no　less　than　three
times　that　you　said　it。　　It　seemed　to　tickle　him　most　to　death；　for
some　reason；　and　that's　queer；　too；　for　he's　anything　but　stingy。
But　there；　I　suppose　you　can　pay　board　if　you　want　to；　though　who
you'll　pay　it　to　is　another　thing。　　_I_　shan't　take　a　cent　from　the
only　grandson　I've　got　in　the　world。〃

It　was　while　on　his　stroll　down　to　the　village　that　Albert　met　Mr。
Kendall。　　The　reverend　gentleman　was　plodding　along　carrying　a
market　basket　from　the　end　of　which；　beneath　a　fragment　of
newspaper；　the　tail　and　rear　third　of　a　huge　codfish　drooped。　　The
basket　and　its　contents　must　have　weighed　at　least　twelve　pounds
and　the　old　minister　was；　as　Captain　Zelotes　would　have　said；
making　heavy　weather　of　it。　　Albert　went　to　his　assistance。

〃How　do　you　do；　Mr。　Kendall；〃　he　said；　〃I'm　afraid　that　basket　is
rather　heavy；　isn't　it。　　Mayn't　I　help　you　with　it？〃　　Then；　seeing
that　the　old　gentleman　did　not　recognize　him；　he　added；　〃I　am
Albert　Speranza。〃

Down　went　the　basket　and　the　codfish　and　Mr。　Kendall　seized　him　by
both　hands。

〃Why；　of　course；　of　course；〃　he　cried。　　〃Of　course；　of　course。
It's　our　young　hero；　isn't　it。　　Our　poet；　our　happy　warrior。　　Yes；
yes；　of　course。　　So　glad　to　see　you；　Albert。　。　。　。　　Er　。　。　。　er　。　。　。
How　is　your　mother？〃

〃You　mean　my　grandmother？　　She　is　very　well；　thank　you。〃

〃Yeseryes；　your　grandmother；　of　course。　。　。　。　　Er　。　。　。　er。　。　。　。
Did　you　see　my　codfish？　　Isn't　it　a　magnificent　one。　　I　am　very
fond　of　codfish　and　we　almost　never　have　it　at　home。　　So　just　now；
I　happened　to　be　passing　Jonathan　Howes'he　is　theerfishdealer；
you　know；　and　。　。　。　Jonathan　is　a　very　regular　attendant　at　my
Sunday　morning　services。　　He　isis。　。　。　。　　Dear　me。　。　。　。　　What
was　I　about　to　say？〃

Being　switched　back　to　the　main　track　by　Albert　he　explained　that
he　had　seen　a　number　of　cod　in　Mr。　Howes'　possession　and　had　bought
this　specimen。　　Howes　had　lent　him　the　basket。

〃And　the　newspaper；〃　he　explained；　adding；　with　triumph；　〃I　shall
dine　on　codfish　to…day；　I　am　happy　to　say。〃　　Judging　by　appearances
he　might　dine　and　sup　and　breakfast　on　codfish　and　still　have　a
supply　remaining。　　Albert　insisted　on　carrying　the　spoil　to　the
parsonage。　　He　was　doing　nothing　in　particular　and　it　would　be　a
pleasure；　he　said。　　Mr。　Kendall　protested　for　the　first　minute　or
so　but　then　forgot　just　what　the　protest　was　all　about　and　rambled
garrulously　on　about　affairs　in　the　parish。　　He　had　failed　in　other
faculties；　but　his　flow　of　language　was　still　unimpeded。　　They
entered　the　gate　of　the　parsonage。　　Albert　put　the　basket　on　the
upper　step。

〃There；〃　he　said；　〃now　I　must　go。　　Good　morning；　Mr。　Kendall。〃

〃Oh；　but　you　aren't　going？　　You　must　come　in　a　moment。　　I　want　to
give　you　the　manuscript　of　that　sermon　of　mine　on　the　casting　down
of　Baal；　that　is　the　one　in　which　I　liken　the　military　power　of
Germany　to　the　brazen　idol　which。　。　。　。　　Just　a　moment；　Albert。
The　manuscript　is　in　my　desk　and。　。　。　。　　Oh；　dear　me；　the　door　is
locked。　。　。　。　　Helen；　Helen！〃

He　was　shaking　the　door　and　shouting　his　daughter's　name。　　Albert
was　surprised　and　not　a　little　disturbed。　　It　had　not　occurred　to
him　that　Helen　could　be　at　home。　　It　is　true　that　before　he　left
for　New　York　his　grandmother　had　said　that　she　was　planning　to
return　home　to　be　with　her　father；　but　since　then　he　had　heard
nothing　more　concerning　her。　　Neither　of　his　grandparents　had
mentioned　her　name　in　their　letters；　nor　since　his　arrival　the　day
before　had　they　mentioned　it。　　And　Mr。　Kendall　had　not　spoken　of
her　during　their　walk　together。　　Albert　was　troubled　and　taken
aback。　　In　one　way　he　would　have　liked　to　meet　Helen　very　much
indeed。　　They　had　not　met　since　before　the　war。　　But　he　did　not；
somehow；　wish　to　meet　her　just　then。　　He　did　not　wish　to　meet
anyone　who　would　speak　of　Madeline；　or　ask　embarrassing　questions。
He　turned　to　go。

〃Another　time；　Mr。　Kendall；〃　he　said。　　〃Good　morning。〃

But　he　had　gone　only　a　few　yards　when　the　reverend　gentleman　was
calling　to　him　to　return。

〃Albert！　　Albert！〃　called　Mr。　Kendall。

He　was　obliged　to　turn　back；　he　could　do　nothing　else；　and　as　he
did　so　the　door　opened。　　It　was　Helen　who　opened　it　and　she　stood
there　upon　the　threshold　and　looked　down　at　him。　　For　a　moment；　a
barely　perceptible　interval；　she　looked；　then　he　heard　her　catch
her　breath　quickly　and　saw　her　put　one　hand　upon　the　door　jamb　as
if　for　support。　　The　next；　and　she　was　running　down　the　steps；　her
hands　outstretched　and　the　light　of　welcome　in　her　eyes。

〃Why；　Albert　Speranza！〃　she　cried。　　〃Why；　ALBERT！〃

He　seized　her　hands。　　〃Helen！〃　he　cried；　and　added　involuntarily；
〃My；　but　it's　good　to　see　you　again！〃

She　laughed　and　so　did　he。　　All　his　embarrassment　was　gone。　　They
were　like　two　children；　like　the　boy　and　girl　who　had　known　each
other　in　the　old　days。

〃And　when　did　you　get　here？〃　she　asked。　　〃And　what　do　you　mean　by
surprising　us　like　this？　　I　saw　your　grandfather　yesterday　morning
and　he　didn't　say　a　word　about　your　coming。〃

〃He　didn't　know　I　was　coming。　　I　didn't　know　it　myself　until　the
day　before。　　And　when　did　you　come？　　Your　father　didn't　tell　me　you
were　here。　　I　didn't　know　until　I　heard　him　call　your　name。〃

He　was　calling　it　again。　　Calling　it　and　demanding　attention　for
his　precious　codfish。

〃Yes；