it？〃 she would say； and ask about something else。
On the other hand； she was perfectly outspoken concerning her own
affairs。 He was nearly overcome with hilarious joy when； one day；
she admitted that； in her mind； Robert Penfold； the hero of Foul
Play； lived again in the person of Laban Keeler。
〃Why； Mrs。 Ellis；〃 he cried； as soon as he could trust himself to
speak at all； 〃I don't see THAT。 Penfold was a six…footer； wasn't
he？ Andand athletic； you know； andand a minister； and young
younger； I meanand〃
Rachel interrupted。 〃Yes； yes； I know；〃 she said。 〃And Laban is
little； and not very young； and； whatever else he is； he ain't a
minister。 I know all that。 I know the outside of him don't look
like Robert Penfold at all。 But；〃 somewhat apologetically； 〃you
see I've been acquainted with him so many years I've got into the
habit of seein' his INSIDE。 Now that sounds kind of ridiculous； I
know；〃 she added。 〃Sounds as if IIwell； as if I was in the
habit of takin' him apart； like a watch or somethin'。 What I mean
is that I know him all through。 I've known him for a long； long
while。 He ain't much to look at； bein' so little and sort of dried
up； but he's got a big； fine heart and big brains。 He can do 'most
anything he sets his hand to。 When I used to know him； when I was
a girl； folks was always prophesyin' that Laban Keeler would turn
out to be a whole lot more'n the average。 He would； too； only for
one thing； and you know what that is。 It's what has kept me from
marryin' him all this time。 I swore I'd never marry a man that
drinks； and I never will。 Why； if it wasn't for liquor Labe would
have been runnin' his own business and gettin' rich long ago。 He
all but runs Cap'n Lote's place as 'tis。 The cap'n and a good many
other folks don't realize that； but it's so。〃
It was plain that she worshiped the little bookkeeper and； except
during the periods of 〃vacation〃 and 〃sympathetics；〃 was
tremendously proud of him。 Albert soon discovered that Mr。
Keeler's feeling for her was equally strong。 In his case； though；
there was also a strong strain of gratitude。
〃She's a fine woman； Al；〃 he confided to his assistant on one
occasion。 〃A fine woman。 。 。 。 Yes； yes； yes。 They don't
make 'em any finer。 Ah hum！ And not so long ago I read about
a passel of darn fools arguin' that the angels in heaven was all
he…ones。 。 。 。 Umph！ 。 。 。 Sho； sho！ If men was as good as women；
AnselAlfredAlbert； I meanwe could start an opposition heaven
down here most any time。 'Most any timeyes； yes。〃
It was considerable for him to say。 Except when on a vacation；
Laban was not loquacious。
Each Sunday afternoon； when the weather was pleasant； he came；
dressed in his best black cutaway； shiny at elbows and the under
part of the sleeves； striped trousers and a pearl gray soft hat
with a black band； a hat which looked as much out of place above
his round； withered little face as a red roof might have looked on
a family vault； and he and the housekeeper went for a walk。
Rachel； in her Sunday black； bulked large beside him。 As Captain
Zelotes said； the pair looked like 〃a tug takin' a liner out to
sea。〃
CHAPTER V
Outside of the gates of the Snow place Albert was making many
acquaintances and a few friends。 After church on Sundays his
grandmother had a distressful habit of suddenly seizing his arm or
his coat…tail as he was hurrying toward the vestibule and the
sunshine of outdoors； and saying： 〃Oh； Albert； just a minute！
Here's somebody you haven't met yet； I guess。 Elsie〃or Nellie or
Mabel or Henry or Charlie or George； whichever it happened to be
〃this is my grandson； Albert Speranza。〃 And the young person to
whom he was thus introduced would； if a male； extend a hesitating
hand； give his own an embarrassed shake； smile uncertainly and say；
〃Yeseryes。 Pleased to meet you。〃 Or； if of the other sex；
would blush a little and venture the observation that it was a
lovely morning； and wasn't the sermon splendid。
These Sabbath introductions led to week…day； or rather week…
evening； meetings。 The principal excitement in South Harniss was
〃going for the mail。〃 At noon and after supper fully one…half of
the village population journeyed to the post office。 Albert's
labors for Z。 Snow and Co。 prevented his attending the noon
gatheringshis grandfather usually got the morning mailbut he
early formed the habit of sauntering 〃down street〃 in the evening
if the weather was not too cold or disagreeable。 There he was
certain to find groups of South Harniss youth of both sexes；
talking； giggling； skylarking and flirting。 Sometimes he joined
one or the other of these groups； quite as often he did not； but
kept aloof and by himself； for it may as well be acknowledged now；
if it is not already plain； that the son of Miguel Carlos Speranza
had inherited a share of his father's temperament and self…esteem。
The whim of the moment might lead him to favor these young people
with his society； but he was far from considering himself under
obligation to do so。 He had not the least idea that he was in any
way a snob； he would have hotly resented being called one； but he
accepted his estimate of his own worth as something absolute and
certain； to be taken for granted。
Now this attitude of mind had its dangers。 Coupled with its
possessor's extraordinary good looks； it was fascinating to a large
percentage of the village girls。 The Speranza eyes and the
Speranza curls and nose and chin were； when joined with the easy
condescension of the Speranza manner； a combination fatal to the
susceptible。 The South Harniss 〃flappers；〃 most of them； enthused
over the new bookkeeper in the lumber office。 They ogled and
giggled and gushed in his presence； and he was tolerant or bored；
just as he happened to be feeling at the moment。 But he never
displayed a marked interest in any one of them； for the very good
reason that he had no such interest。 To him they were merely
girls； nice enough in their way； perhaps； but that way not his。
Most of the town young fellows of his age he found had a 〃girl〃 and
almost every girl had a 〃fellow〃； there was calf love in abundance；
but he was a different brand of veal。
However； a great man must amuse himself； and so he accepted
invitations to church socials and suppers and to an occasional
dance or party。 His style of dancing was not that of South Harniss
in the winter。 It was common enough at the hotel or the 〃tea
house〃 in July and August when the summer people were there； but
not at the town hall at the Red Men's Annual Ball in February。 A
fellow who could foxtrot as he could swept all before him。 Sam
Thatcher； of last year's class in the high school； but now clerking
in the drug store； who had hitherto reigned as the best 〃two…
stepper〃 in town； suddenly became conscious of his feet。 Then；
too； the contents of the three trunks which had been sent on from
school were now in evidence。 No Boston or Brockton 〃Advanced
Styles〃 held a candle to those suits which the tailor of the late
Miguel Carlos had turned out for his patron's only son。 No other
eighteen…year…older among the town's year…around residents
possessed a suit of evening clothes。 Albert wore his 〃Tux〃 at the
Red Men's Ball and hearts palpitated beneath new muslin gowns and
bitter envy stirred beneath the Brockton 〃Advanced Styles。〃
In consequence； by spring the social status of Albert Speranza
among those of his own age in the village had become something
like this： He was in high favor with most of the girls and in
corresponding disfavor with most of the young fellows。 The girls；
although they agreed that he was 〃stand…offish and kind of queer；〃
voted him 〃just lovely； all the same。〃 Their envious beaux
referred to him sneeringly among themselves as a 〃stuck…up dude。〃
Some one of them remembered having been told that Captain Zelotes；
years before； had been accustomed to speak of his hated son…in…law
as 〃the Portygee。〃 Behind his back they formed the habit of
referring to their new rival in the same way。 The first time
Albert heard himself called a 〃Portygee〃 was after prayer meeting
on Friday evening； when； obeying a whim； he had walked home with
Gertie Kendrick； quite forgetful of the fact that Sam Thatcher； who
aspired to be Gertie's 〃steady；〃 was himself waiting on the church
steps for that privilege。
Even then nothing might have come of it had he and Sam not met in
the path as he was sauntering back across lots to the main road
and home。 It was a brilliant moonlight night and the pair came
together； literally； at the bend where the path turns sharply
around the corner of Elijah Doane's cranberry shanty。 Sam； plowing
along； head down and hands in his pockets； swung around that corner
and bumped violently into Albert； who； a cigarette between his
lipsout here in the fields； away from civilization and Captain
Zelotes； was a satisfyingly comfortable place to smoke a cigarette
was dreaming dreams of a future far away from South Harniss。 Sam
had been thinking of Gertie。 Albert had not。 She had been a mere
incident of the evening； he had walked home with her because he
happened to be in the mood for companionship and she was rather
pretty and always talkative。 His dreams during the stroll back
alone in the moonlight had been of lofty things； of poetry and fame
and high emprise； giggling Gerties had no place in them。 It was
distinctly different with Sam Thatcher。
They crashed together； gasped and recoiled。
〃Oh； I'm sorry！〃 exclaimed Albert。
〃Can't you see where you're goin'； you darned Portygee half…breed？〃
demanded Sam。
Albert； who had stepped past him； turned and came back。
〃What did you say？〃 he asked。
〃I said you was a darned half…breed； and you are。 You're a no…good
Portygee； like your father。〃
It was all he had time to say。 For the next few minutes he was too
busy to talk。 The Speranzas； father and son； possessed temperament；
also they possessed temper。 Sam's face； usually placid and
good…natured； for Sam was by no means a bad fellow in his way； was
fiery red。 Albert's； on the contrary； went perfectly white。 He
seemed to settle back on his heels and f