the portygee-第9节

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He　set　his　teeth　and；　tossing　back　the　bed　clothes；　jumped　to　the
floor。　　Then　he　jumped　again；　for　the　floor　was　like　ice。　　The
window　was　wide　open　and　he　closed　it；　but　there　was　no　warm
radiator　to　cuddle　against　while　dressing。　　He　missed　his
compulsory　morning　shower；　a　miss　which　did　not　distress　him
greatly。　　He　shook　himself　into　his　clothes；　soused　his　head　and
neck　in　a　basin　of　ice　water　poured　from　a　pitcher；　and；　before
brushing　his　hair；　looked　out　of　the　window。

It　was　a　sharp　winter　morning。　　The　wind　had　gone　down；　but　before
subsiding　it　had　blown　every　trace　of　mist　or　haze　from　the　air；
and　from　his　window…sill　to　the　horizon　every　detail　was　clean　cut
and　distinct。　　He　was　looking　out；　it　seemed；　from　the　back　of　the
house。　　The　roof　of　the　kitchen　extension　was　below　him　and；　to　the
right；　the　high　roof　of　the　barn。　　Over　the　kitchen　roof　and　to　the
left　he　saw　little　rolling　hills；　valleys；　cranberry　swamps；　a
pond。　　A　road　wound　in　and　out　and；　scattered　along　it；　were
houses；　mostly　white　with　green　blinds；　but　occasionally　varied　by
the　gray　of　unpainted；　weathered　shingles。　　A　long；　low…spreading
building　a　half　mile　off　looked　as　if　it　might　be　a　summer　hotel；
now　closed　and　shuttered。　　Beyond　it　was　a　cluster　of　gray　shanties
and　a　gleam　of　water；　evidently　a　wharf　and　a　miniature　harbor。
And；　beyond　that；　the　deep；　brilliant　blue　of　the　sea。　　Brown　and
blue　were　the　prevailing　colors；　but；　here　and　there；　clumps　and
groves　of　pines　gave　splashes　of　green。

There　was　an　exhilaration　in　the　crisp　air。　　He　felt　an　unwonted
liveliness　and　a　desire　to　be　active　which　would　have　surprised　some
of　his　teachers　at　the　school　he　had　just　left。　　The　depression　of
spirits　of　which　he　had　been　conscious　the　previous　night　had
disappeared　along　with　his　premonitions　of　unpleasantness。　　He　felt
optimistic　this　morning。　　After　giving　his　curls　a　rake　with　the
comb；　he　opened　the　door　and　descended　the　steep　stairs　to　the　lower
floor。

His　grandmother　was　setting　the　breakfast　table。　　He　was　a　little
surprised　to　see　her　doing　it。　　What　was　the　use　of　having　servants
if　one　did　the　work　oneself？　　But　perhaps　the　housekeeper　was　ill。

〃Good　morning；〃　he　said。

Mrs。　Snow；　who　had　not　heard　him　enter；　turned　and　saw　him。　　When
he　crossed　the　room；　she　kissed　him　on　the　cheek。

〃Good　morning；　Albert；〃　she　said。　　〃I　hope　you　slept　well。〃

Albert　replied　that　he　had　slept　very　well　indeed。　　He　was　a　trifle
disappointed　that　she　made　no　comment　on　his　promptness　in　answering
his　grandfather's　summons。　　He　felt　such　promptness　deserved
commendation。　　At　school　they　rang　two　bells　at　ten　minute　intervals；
thus　giving　a　fellow　a　second　chance。　　It　had　been　a　point　of　senior
etiquette　to　accept　nothing　but　that　second　chance。　　Here；
apparently；　he　was　expected　to　jump　at　the　first。　　There　was　a
matter　of　course　about　his　grandmother's　attitude　which　was
disturbing。

She　went　on　setting　the　table；　talking　as　she　did　so。

〃I'm　real　glad　you　did　sleep；〃　she　said。　　〃Some　folks　can　hardly
ever　sleep　the　first　night　in　a　strange　room。　　ZelotesI　mean　your
grandpa's　gone　out　to　see　to　the　horse　and　feed　the　hens　and　the
pig。　　He'll　be　in　pretty　soon。　　Then　we'll　have　breakfast。　　I
suppose　you're　awful　hungry。〃

As　a　matter　of　fact　he　was　not　very　hungry。　　Breakfast　was　always　a
more　or　less　perfunctory　meal　with　him。　　But　he　was　surprised　to
see　the　variety　of　eatables　upon　that　table。　　There　were　cookies
there；　and　doughnuts；　and　even　half　an　apple　pie。　　Pie　for
breakfast！　　It　had　been　a　newspaper　joke　at　which　he　had　laughed
many　times。　　But　it　seemed　not　to　be　a　joke　here；　rather　a　solemn
reality。

The　kitchen　door　opened　and　Mrs。　Ellis　put　in　her　head。　　To
Albert's　astonishment　the　upper　part　of　the　head；　beginning　just
above　the　brows；　was　swathed　in　a　huge　bandage。　　The　lower　part　was
a　picture　of　hopeless　misery。

〃Has　Cap'n　Lote　come　in　yet？〃　inquired　the　housekeeper；　faintly。

〃Not　yet；　Rachel；〃　replied　Mrs。　Snow。　　〃He'll　be　here　in　a　minute；
though。　　Albert's　down；　so　you　can　begin　takin'　up　the　things。〃

The　head　disappeared。　　A　sigh　of　complete　wretchedness　drifted　in
as　the　door　closed。　　Albert　looked　at　his　grandmother　in　alarm。

〃Is　she　sick？〃　he　faltered。

〃Who？　　Rachel？　　No；　she　ain't　exactly　sick　。　。　。　　Dear　me！　　Where
did　I　put　that　clean　napkin？〃

The　boy　stared　at　the　kitchen　door。　　If　his　grandmother　had　said
the　housekeeper　was　not　exactly　dead　he　might　have　understood。　　But
to　say　she　was　not　exactly　sick

〃Butbut　what　makes　her　look　so？〃　he　stammered。　　〃Andand　what's
she　got　that　on　her　head　for？　　And　she　groaned！　　Why；　she　MUST　be
sick！〃

Mrs。　Snow；　having　found　the　clean　napkin；　laid　it　beside　her
husband's　plate。

〃No；〃　she　said　calmly。　　〃It's　one　of　her　sympathetic　attacks；
that's　what　she　calls　'em；　sympathetic　attacks。　　She　has　'em　every
time　Laban　Keeler　starts　in　on　one　of　his　periodics。　　It's　nerves；
I　suppose。　　Cap'n　Zelotesyour　grandfathersays　it's　everlastin'
foolishness。　　Whatever　'tis；　it's　a　nuisance。　　And　she's　so
sensible　other　times；　too。〃

Albert　was　more　puzzled　than　ever。　　Why　in　the　world　Mrs。　Ellis
should　tie　up　her　head　and　groan　because　the　little　Keeler　person
had　gone　on　a　spree　was　beyond　his　comprehension。

His　grandmother　enlightened　him　a　trifle。

〃You　see；〃　she　went　on；　〃she　and　Laban　have　been　engaged　to　be
married　ever　since　they　were　young　folks。　　It's　Laban's　weakness
for　liquor　that's　kept　'em　apart　so　long。　　She　won't　marry　him
while　he　drinks　and　he　keeps　swearin'　off　and　then　breaking　down。
He's　a　good　man；　too；　an　awful　good　man　and　capable　as　all　get…out
when　he's　sober。　　Lately　that　is；　for　the　last　seven　or　eight
years；　beginnin'　with　the　time　when　that　lecturer　on　mesmerism　and
telegraphyno；　telepathythought…transfers　and　suchwas　at　the
town　hallRachel　has　been　havin'　these　sympathetic　attacks　of
hers。　　She　declares　that　alcohol…takin'　is　a　disease　and　that　Laban
suffers　when　he's　tipsy　and　that　she　and　he　are　so　bound　up
together　that　she　suffers　just　the　same　as　he　does。　　I　must　say　I
never　noticed　him　sufferin'　very　much；　not　at　the　beginnin；'
anyhowacts　more　as　he　was　havin'　a　good　timebut　she　seems　to。
I　don't　wonder　you　smile；〃　she　added。　　〃'Tis　funny；　in　a　way；　and
it's　queer　that　such　a　practical；　common…sense　woman　as　Rachel
Ellis　is；　should　have　such　a　notion。　　It's　hard　on　us；　though。
Don't　say　anything　to　her　about　it；　and　don't　laugh　at　her；
whatever　you　do。〃

Albert　wanted　to　laugh　very　much。　　〃But；　Mrs。　Snow〃　he　began。

〃Mercy　sakes　alive！　　You　ain't　goin'　to　call　me　'Mrs。　Snow；'　I
hope。〃

〃No；　of　course　not。　　But；　Grandmother　why　do　you　and　Captainyou
and　Grandfather　keep　her　and　Keeler　if　they　are　so　much　trouble？
Why　don't　you　let　them　go　and　get　someone　else？〃

〃Let　'em　go？　　Get　someone　else！　　Why；　we　COULDN'T　get　anybody　else；
anyone　who　would　be　like　them。　　They're　almost　a　part　of　our
family；　that　is；　Rachel　is；　she's　been　here　since　goodness　knows
when。　　And；　when　he's　sober　Laban　almost　runs　the　lumber　business。
Besides；　they're　nice　folksalmost　always。〃

Plainly　the　ways　of　South　Harniss　were　not　the　ways　of　the　world　he
had　known。　　Certainly　these　people　were　〃Rubes〃　and　queer　Rubes；
too。　　Then　he　remembered　that　two　of　them　were　his　grandparents　and
that　his　immediate　future　was；　so　to　speak；　in　their　hands。　　The
thought　was　not　entirely　comforting　or　delightful。　　He　was　still
pondering　upon　it　when　his　grandfather　came　in　from　the　barn。

The　captain　said　good　morning　in　the　same　way　he　had　said　good
night；　that　is；　he　and　Albert　shook　hands　and　the　boy　was　again
conscious　of　the　gaze　which　took　him　in　from　head　to　foot　and　of
the　quiet　twinkle　in　the　gray　eyes。

〃Sleep　well；　son？〃　inquired　Captain　Zelotes。

〃Yes　。　。　。　　Yes；　sir。〃

〃That's　good。　　I　judged　you　was　makin'　a　pretty　good　try　at　it　when
I　thumped　on　your　door　this　mornin'。　　Somethin'　new　for　you　to　be
turned　out　at　seven；　eh？〃

〃No；　sir。〃

〃Eh？　　It　wasn't？〃

〃No；　sir。　　The　rising　bell　rang　at　seven　up　at　school。　　We　were
supposed　to　be　down　at　breakfast　at　a　quarter　past。〃

〃Humph！　　You　were；　eh？　　Supposed　to　be？　　Does　that　mean　that　you
were　there？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

There　was　a　surprised　look　in　the　gray　eyes　now；　a　fact　which
Albert　noticed　with　inward　delight。　　He　had　taken　one　〃rise〃　out
of　his　grandfather；　at　any　rate。　　He　waited；　hoping　for　another
opportunity；　but　it　did　not　come。　　Instead　they　sat　down　to
breakfast。

Breakfast；　in　spite　of　the　morning　sunshine　at　the　windows；　was
somewhat　gloomy。　　The　homesickness；　although　not　as　acute　as　on　the
previous　night；　was　still　in　evidence。　　Albert　felt　lost；　out　of
his　element；　lonely。　　And；　to　add　a　touch　of　real　miserableness；
the　housekeeper　served　and　ate　like　a　near　relative　of　the　deceased
at　a　funeral　feast。　　She　moved　slowly；　she　sighed　heavily；　and　the
bandage　upon　her　forehead　loomed　large　and　portentous。　　When　spoken
to　she　seldom　replied　before　the　third　attempt。　　Captain　Zelotes
lost　patience。

〃Have　another　egg？〃　he　roared；　brandishing　the　spoon　containing　it
at　arm's　length　and　almost　under　her　nose。　　〃Egg！　　Egg！　　EGG！　　If