the portygee-第8节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


I've　got　that　he　made　her　miserable。　　Look　here；　Mother；　you　and
she　used　to　write　back　and　forth　once　in　a　while。　　In　any　one　of
those　letters　did　she　ever　say　she　was　happy？〃

Mrs。　Snow's　answer　was　somewhat　equivocal。　　〃She　never　said　she　was
unhappy；〃　she　replied。　　Her　husband　sniffed　and　resumed　his　pacing
up　and　down。

After　a　little　Olive　spoke　again。

〃New　York　IS　a　good　ways；〃　she　said。　　〃Maybe　'twould　be　better　for
you　to　meet　this　lawyer　man　in　Boston。　　Don't　you　think　so？〃

〃Bah！〃

Another　interval。　　Then：　　〃Zelotes？〃

〃Yes；〃　impatiently。　　〃What　is　it？〃

〃It's　her　boy；　after　all；　isn't　it？　　Our　grandson；　yours　and　mine。
Don't　you　thinkdon't　you　think　it's　your　duty　to　go；　Zelotes？〃

Captain　Lote　stamped　his　foot。

〃For　thunderation　sakes；　Olive；　let　up！〃　he　commanded。　　〃You　ought
to　know　by　this　time　that　there's　one　thing　I　hate　worse　than　doin'
my　duty；　that's　bein'　preached　to　about　it。　　Let　up！　　Don't　you　say
another　word。〃

She　did　not；　having　learned　much　by　years　of　experience。　　He　said
the　next　word　on　the　subject　himself。　　At　noon；　when　he　came　home
for　dinner；　he　said；　as　they　rose　from　the　table：　　〃Where's　my
suitcase；　up　attic？〃

〃Why；　yes；　I　guess　likely　'tis。　　Why？〃

Instead　of　answering　he　turned　to　the　housekeeper；　Mrs。　Ellis。

〃Rachel；〃　he　said；　〃go　up　and　get　that　case　and　fetch　it　down　to
the　bedroom；　will　you？　　Hurry　up！　　Train　leaves　at　half…past　two
and　it's　'most　one　now。〃

Both　women　stared　at　him。　　Mrs。　Ellis　spoke　first。

〃Why；　Cap'n　Lote；〃　she　cried；　〃be　you　goin'　away？〃

Her　employer's　answer　was　crisp　and　very　much　to　the　point。　　〃I　am
if　I　can　get　that　case　time　enough　to　pack　it　and　make　the　train；〃
he　observed。　　〃If　you　stand　here　askin'　questions　I　probably　shall
stay　to　home。〃

The　housekeeper　made　a　hasty　exit　by　way　of　the　back　stairs。　　Mrs。
Snow　still　gazed　wonderingly　at　her　husband。

〃Zelotes；〃　she　faltered；　〃are　youare　you〃

〃I'm　goin'　to　New　York　on　to…night's　boat。　　I've　telegraphed　that
that　WeissWeisswhat…do…you…call…itthat　Portygee　lawyerthat
I'll　be　to　his　office　to…morrow　mornin'。〃

〃But；　Zelotes；　we　haven't　scarcely　talked　about　it；　you　and　I；　at
all。　　You　might　have　waited　till　he　came　to　Boston。　　Why　do　you　go
so　SOON？〃

The　captain's　heavy　brows　drew　together。

〃You　went　to　the　dentist's　last　Friday；〃　he　said。　　〃Why　didn't　you
wait　till　next　week？〃

〃Whywhy；　what　a　question！　　My　tooth　ached　and　I　wanted　to　have　it
fixed　quick　as　possible。〃

〃Um…m；　yes。　　Well；　this　tooth　aches　and　I　want　it　fixed　or　hauled
out；　one　or　t'other。　　I　want　the　thing　off　my　mind。　。　。　。　　Don't
TALK　to　me？〃　he　added；　irritably。　　〃I　know　I'm　a　fool。　　And；〃　with
a　peremptory　wave　of　the　hand；　〃don't　you　DARE　say　anything　about
DUTY！〃

He　was　back　again　two　days　later。　　His　wife　did　not　question　him；
but　waited　for　him　to　speak。　　Those　years　of　experience　already
mentioned　had　taught　her　diplomacy。　　He　looked　at　her　and　pulled
his　beard。　　〃Well；〃　he　observed；　when　they　were　alone　together；　〃I
saw　him。〃

〃Thethe　boy？〃　eagerly。

〃No；　no！　　Course　not！　　The　boy's　at　school　somewhere　up　in　New　York
State；　how　could　I　see　him！　　I　saw　that　lawyer　and　I　found　out
aboutabout　the　other　scamp。　　He　was　killed　in　an　auto　accident；
drunk　at　the　time；　I　cal'late。　　Nigh's　I　can　gather　he's　been
drinkin'　pretty　heavy　for　the　last　six　or　seven　years。　　Always
lived　high；　same　as　his　kind　generally　does；　and　spent　money　like
water；　I　judgebut　goin'　down　hill　fast　lately。　　His　voice　was
givin'　out　on　him　and　he　realized　it；　I　presume　likely。　　Now　he's
dead　and　left　nothin'　but　trunks　full　of　stage　clothes　and
photographs　and；〃　contemptuously；　〃letters　from　fool　women；　and
debtsLord；　yes！　debts　enough。〃

〃But　the　boy；　Zelotes。　　Janie's　boy？〃

〃He's　been　at　this　school　place　for　pretty　nigh　ten　years；　so　the
lawyer　feller　said。　　That　lawyer　was　a　pretty　decent　chap；　too；　for
a　furriner。　　Seems　he　used　to　know　thisSperanza　rascalwhen
Speranza　was　younger　and　more　decentif　he　ever　was　really　decent；
which　I　doubt。　　But　this　lawyer　man　was　his　friend　then　and　about
the　only　one　he　really　had　when　he　was　hurt。　　There　was　plenty　of
make…believe　friends　hangin'　on；　like　pilot…fish　to　a　shark；　for
what　they　could　get　by　spongin'　on　him；　but　real　friends　were
scarce。〃

〃And　the　boy〃

〃For　the　Lord　sakes；　Mother；　don't　keep　sayin'　'The　boy；'　'the
boy；'　over　and　over　again　like　a　talkin'　machine！　　Let　me　finish
about　the　father　first。　　This　Weiserthingamajigthe　lawyer；
had　quite　a　talk　with　Speranza　afore　he　died；　or　while　he　was
dyin'；　he　only　lived　a　few　hours　after　the　accident　and　was　out　of
his　head　part　of　that。　　But　he　said　enough　to　let　Weisserer
Oh；　why　CAN'T　I　remember　that　Portygee's　name？to　let　him　know
that　he'd　like　to　have　him　settle　up　what　was　left　of　his　affairs；
and　to　send　word　to　us　aboutabout　the　boy。　　There！　　I　hope　you
feel　easier；　Mother；　I've　got　'round　to　'the　boy'　at　last。〃

〃But　why　did　he　want　word　sent　to　us；　Zelotes？　　He　never　wrote　a
line　to　us　in　his　life。〃

〃You　bet　he　didn't！〃　bitterly；　〃he　knew　better。　　Why　did　he　want
word　sent　now？　　The　answer　to　that's　easy　enough。　　'Cause　he　wanted
to　get　somethin'　out　of　us；　that's　the　reason。　　From　what　that
lawyer　could　gather；　and　from　what　he's　found　out　since；　there
ain't　money　enough　for　the　boy　to　stay　another　six　weeks　at　that
school；　or　anywhere　else；　unless　the　young　feller　earns　it　himself。
And；　leavin'　us　out　of　the　count；　there　isn't　a　relation　this　side
of　the　salt　pond。　　There's　probably　a　million　or　so　over　there　in
Portygee…land；〃　with　a　derisive　sniff；　〃those　foreigners　breed　like
flies。　　But　THEY　don't　count。〃

〃But　did　he　want　word　sent　to　us　about　the〃

〃Sshh！　　I'm　tellin'　you；　Olive；　I'm　tellin'　you。　　He　wanted　word
sent　because　he　was　in　hopes　that　weyou　and　I；　Motherwould　take
that　son　of　his　in　at　our　house　here　and　give　him　a　home。　　The
cheek　of　it！　　After　what　he'd　done　to　you　and　me；　blast　him！　　The
solid　brass　nerve　of　it！〃

He　stormed　up　and　down　the　room。　　His　wife　did　not　seem　nearly　so
much　disturbed　as　he　at　the　thought　of　the　Speranza　presumption。
She　looked　anxiousyes；　but　she　looked　eager；　too；　and　her　gaze
was　fixed　upon　her　husband's　face。

〃Oh！〃　she　said；　softly。　　〃Oh！　。　。　。　　Andand　what　did　you　say；
Zelotes？〃

〃What　did　I　say？　　What　do　you　suppose　I　said？　　I　said　no；　and　I
said　it　good　and　loud；　too。〃

Olive　made　no　comment。　　She　turned　away　her　head；　and　the　captain；
who　now　in　his　turn　was　watching　her；　saw　a　suspicious　gleam；　as　of
moisture；　on　her　cheek。　　He　stopped　his　pacing　and　laid　a　hand　on
her　shoulder。

〃There；　there；　Mother；〃　he　said；　gently。　　〃Don't　cry。　　He's
comin'。〃

〃Comin'？〃　　She　turned　pale。　　〃Comin'？〃　she　repeated。　　〃Who？〃

〃That　boy！　。　。　。　　Sshh！　shh！〃　impatiently。　　〃Now　don't　go　askin'　me
questions　or　tellin'　me　what　I　just　said　I　said。　　I　SAID　the　right
thing；　but　　Well；　hang　it　all；　what　else　could　I　DO？　　I　wrote　the
boyAlberta　letter　and　I　wrote　the　boss　of　the　school　another
one。　　I　sent　a　check　along　for　expenses　and　　Well；　he'll　be　here
'most　any　day　now；　I　shouldn't　wonder。　　And　WHAT　in　the　devil　are
we　goin'　to　do　with　him？〃

His　wife　did　not　reply　to　this　outburst。　　She　was　trembling　with
excitement。

〃Isis　his　name　Albert？〃　she　faltered。

〃Um…hm。　　Seems　so。〃

〃Why；　that's　your　middle　name！　　Do　youdo　you　s'pose　Janie　could
have　named　him　forfor　you？〃

〃I　don't　know。〃

〃Of　course；〃　with　some　hesitation；　〃it　may　be　she　didn't。　　If　she'd
named　him　Zelotes〃

〃Good　heavens；　woman！　　Isn't　one　name　like　that　enough　in　the
family？　　Thank　the　Lord　we're　spared　two　of　'em！　　But　there！　he's
comin'。　　And　when　he　gets　herethen　what？〃

Olive　put　her　arm　about　her　big　husband。

〃I　hopeyes；　I'm　sure　you　did　right；　Zelotes；　and　that　all's　goin'
to　turn　out　to　be　for　the　best。〃

〃Are　you？　　Well；　_I_　ain't　sure；　not　by　a　thousand　fathom。〃

〃He's　Janie's　boy。〃

〃Yes。　　And　he's　that　play…actor's　boy；　too。　　One　Speranza　pretty
nigh　ruined　your　life　and　mine；　Olive。　　What'll　this　one　do？　。　。　。
Well；　God　knows；　I　suppose　likely；　but　He　won't　tell。　　All　we　can
do　is　wait　and　see。　　I　tell　you　honest　I　ain't　very　hopeful。〃



CHAPTER　III


A　brisk　rap　on　the　door；　then　a　man's　voice。

〃Hello；　there！　　Wake　up。〃

Albert　rolled　over；　opened　one　eye；　then　the　other　and　raised
himself　on　his　elbow。

〃Eh？　　Wh…what？〃　he　stammered。

〃Seven　o'clock！　　Time　to　turn　out。〃

The　voice　was　his　grandfather's。　　〃Ohoh；　all　right！〃　he　answered。

〃Understand　me；　do　you？〃

〃Yesyes；　sir。　　I'll　be　right　down。〃

The　stairs　creaked　as　Captain　Zelotes　descended　them。　　Albert
yawned　cavernously；　stretched　and　slid　one　foot　out　of　bed。　　He
drew　it　back　instantly；　however；　for　the　sensation　was　that　of
having　thrust　it　into　a　bucket　of　cold　water。　　The　room　had　been
cold　the　previous　evening；　plainly　it　was　colder　still　now。　　The
temptation　was　to　turn　back　and　go　to　sleep　again；　but　he　fought
against　it。　　Somehow　he　had　a　feeling　that　to　disregard　his
grandfather's　summons　would　be　poor　diplomacy。

He　set　his　teeth　and；　tossing　back　the　bed　clothes；　jumped　to　the
floor。　　Then　he　jumped　again；　for　the　floor　was　l