the portygee- 第24部分

〃I　don't　know。　　But　I'm　not　going　to　make　a　fool　of　myself　at　this
job　any　longer。　　I　can't　keep　books；　and　I　won't　keep　them。　　I　hate
business。　　I'm　no　good　at　it。　　And　I　won't　stay　here。〃

〃I　see。　　I　see。　　Well；　if　you　won't　keep　on　in　business；　what　will
you　do　for　a　livin'？　　Write　poetry？〃

〃Perhaps。〃

〃Um…m。　　Be　kind　of　slim　livin'；　won't　it？　　You've　been　writin'
poetry　for　about　a　year　and　a　half；　as　I　recollect；　and　so　far
you've　made　ten　dollars。〃

〃That's　all　right。　　If　I　don't　make　it　I　may　starve；　as　you　are
always　saying　that　writers　do。　　But；　starve　or　not；　I　shan't　ask
YOU　to　take　care　of　me。〃

〃I've　taken　care　of　you　for　three　years　or　so。〃

〃Yes。　　But　you　did　it　becausebecause　　Well；　I　don't　know　why
you　did；　exactly；　but　you　won't　have　to　do　it　any　longer。　　I'm
through。〃

The　captain　still　stared　steadily；　and　what　he　saw　in　the　dark　eyes
which　flashed　defiance　back　at　him　seemed　to　trouble　him　a　little。
His　tugs　at　his　beard　became　more　strenuous。

〃Humph！〃　he　muttered。　　〃Humph！　。　。　。　　Well；　Al；　of　course　I　can't
make　you　stay　by　main　force。　　Perhaps　I　couldyou　ain't　of　age
yetbut　I　shan't。　　And　you　want　to　quit　the　ship　altogether；　do
you？〃

〃If　you　mean　this　officeyes；　I　do。〃

〃I　see；　I　see。　　Want　to　quit　South　Harniss　and　your　grandmother
and　Racheland　Labeand　Helenand　all　the　rest　of　'em？〃

〃Not　particularly。　　But　I　shall　have　to；　of　course。〃

〃Yes。　。　。　。　　Um…hm。　。　。　。　　Yes。　　Have　you　thought　how　your
grandmother's　liable　to　feel　when　she　hears　you　are　goin'　to　clear
out　and　leave　her？〃

Albert　had　not　thought　in　that　way；　but　he　did　now。　　His　tone　was　a
trifle　less　combative　as　he　answered。

〃She'll　be　sorry　at　first；　I　suppose；〃　he　said；　〃but　she'll　get
over　it。〃

〃Um…hm。　　Maybe　she　will。　　You　can　get　over　'most　anything　in　time
'MOST　anything。　　Well；　and　how　about　me？　　How　do　you　think　I'll
feel？〃

Albert's　chin　lifted。　　〃You！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃Why；　you'll　be　mighty
glad　of　it。〃

Captain　Zelotes　picked　up　the　pencil　stump　and　twirled　it　in　his
fingers。　　〃Shall　I？〃　he　asked。　　〃You　think　I　will；　do　you？〃

〃Of　course　you　will。　　You　don't　like　me；　and　never　did。〃

〃So　I've　heard　you　say。　　Well；　boy；　don't　you　cal'late　I　like　you
at　least　as　much　as　you　like　me？〃

〃No。　　What　do　you　mean？　　I　like　you　well　enough。　　That　is；　I　should
if　you　gave　me　half　a　chance。　　But　you　don't　do　it。　　You　hate　me
because　my　father〃

The　captain　interrupted。　　His　big　palm　struck　the　desk。

〃DON'T　say　that　again！〃　he　commanded。　　〃Look　here；　if　I　hated　you
do　you　suppose　I'd　be　talkin'　to　you　like　this？　　If　I　hated　you　do
you　cal'late　I'd　argue　when　you　gave　me　notice？　　Not　by　a　jugful！
No　man　ever　came　to　me　and　said　he　was　goin'　to　quit　and　had　me　beg
him　to　stay。　　If　we　was　at　sea　he　stayed　until　we　made　port；　then
he　WENT；　and　he　didn't　hang　around　waitin'　for　a　boat　to　take　him
ashore　neither。　　I　don't　hate　you；　son。　　I'd　ask　nothin'　better
than　a　chance　to　like　you；　but　you　won't　give　it　to　me。〃

Albert's　eyes　and　mouth　opened。

〃_I_　won't　give　YOU　a　chance？〃　he　repeated。

〃Sartin。　　DO　you　give　me　one？　　I　ask　you　to　keep　these　books　of
mine。　　You　could　keep　'em　A　Number　One。　　You're　smart　enough　to　do
it。　　But　you　won't。　　You　let　'em　go　to　thunder　and　waste　your　time
makin'　up　fool　poetry　and　such　stuff。〃

〃But　I　like　writing；　and　I　don't　like　keeping　books。〃

〃Keepin'　books　is　a　part　of　l'arnin'　the　business；　and　business　is
the　way　you're　goin'　to　get　your　livin'　by　and　by。〃

〃No；　it　isn't。　　I　am　going　to　be　a　writer。〃

〃Now　DON'T　say　that　silly　thing　again！　　I　don't　want　to　hear　it。〃

〃I　shall　say　it　because　it　is　true。〃

〃Look　here；　boy：　　When　I　tell　you　or　anybody　else　in　this　office　to
do　or　not　to　do　a　thing；　I　expect　'em　to　obey　orders。　　And　I　tell
you　not　to　talk　any　more　of　that　foolishness　about　bein'　a　writer。
D'you　understand？〃

〃Yes；　of　course　I　understand。〃

〃All　right；　then；　that　much　is　settled。　。　。　。　　Here！　　Where　are　you
goin'？〃

Albert　had　turned　and　was　on　his　way　out　of　the　office。　　He　stopped
and　answered　over　his　shoulder；　〃I'm　going　home；〃　he　said。

〃Goin'　HOME？　　Why；　you　came　from　home　not　more　than　an　hour　and　a
half　ago！　　What　are　you　goin'　there　again　now　for？〃

〃To　pack　up　my　things。〃

〃To　pack　up　your　things！　　To　pack　up　　Humph！　　So　you　really　mean
it！　　You're　really　goin'　to　quit　me　like　this？　　And　your　grandma；
too！〃

The　young　man　felt　a　sudden　pang　of　compunction；　a　twinge　of
conscience。

〃Grandfather；〃　he　said；　〃I'm　sorry。　　I〃

But　the　change　in　his　attitude　and　tone　came　too　late。　　Captain
Lote's　temper　was　boiling　now；　contradiction　was　its　worst
provocative。

〃Goin'　to　quit！〃　he　sneered。　　〃Goin'　to　quit　because　you　don't　like
to　work。　　All　right；　quit　then！　　Go　ahead！　　I've　done　all　I　can　to
make　a　man　of　you。　　Go　to　the　devil　in　your　own　way。〃

〃Grandfather；　I〃

〃Go　ahead！　　_I_　can't　stop　you。　　It's　in　your　breed；　I　cal'late。〃

That　was　sufficient。　　Albert　strode　out　of　the　private　office；　head
erect。　　Captain　Zelotes　rose　and　slammed　the　door　after　his
departing　grandson。

At　ten　that　evening　Albert　was　in　his　room；　sitting　in　a　chair　by
the　window；　gloomily　looking　out。　　The　packing；　most　of　it；　had
been　done。　　He　had　not；　as　he　told　his　grandfather　he　intended
doing；　left　the　office　immediately　and　come　straight　home　to　pack。
As　he　emerged　from　the　inner　office　after　the　stormy　interview　with
the　captain　he　found　Laban　Keeler　hard　at　work　upon　the　books。　　The
sight　of　the　little　man；　so　patiently　and　cheerfully　pegging　away；
brought　another　twinge　of　conscience　to　the　assistant　bookkeeper。
Laban　had　been　such　a　brick　in　all　their　relationships。　　It　must
have　been　a　sore　trial　to　his　particular；　business…like　soul；　those
errors　in　the　trial　balance。　　Yet　he　had　not　found　fault　nor
complained。　　Captain　Zelotes　himself　had　said　that　every　item
concerning　his　grandson's　mistakes　and　blunders　had　been　dragged
from　Mr。　Keeler　much　against　the　latter's　will。　　Somehow　Albert
could　not　bear　to　go　off　and　leave　him　at　once。　　He　would　stay　and
finish　his　day's　work；　for　Labe　Keeler's　sake。

So　stay　he　did　and　when　Captain　Zelotes　later　came　out　of　his
private　office　and　found　him　there　neither　of　them　spoke。　　At　home；
during　supper；　nothing　was　said　concerning　the　quarrel　of　the
afternoon。　　Yet　Albert　was　as　determined　to　leave　as　ever；　and　the
Captain；　judging　by　the　expression　of　his　face；　was　just　as
determined　to　do　nothing　more　to　prevent　him。　　After　supper　the
young　man　went　to　his　room　and　began　the　packing。　　His　grandfather
went　out；　an　unusual　proceeding　for　him；　saying　that　he　guessed　he
would　go　down　street　for　a　spell。

Now　Albert；　as　he　sat　there　by　the　window；　was　gloomy　enough。　　The
wind；　howling　and　wailing　about　the　gables　of　the　old　house；　was
not　an　aid　to　cheerfulness　and　he　needed　every　aid。　　He　had　sworn
to　go　away；　he　was　going　awaybut　where　should　he　go？　　He　had　a
little　money　put　by；　not　much　but　a　little；　which　he　had　been
saving　for　quite　another　purpose。　　This　would　take　him　a　little
way；　would　pay　his　bills　for　a　short　time；　but　after　that　　Well；
after　that　he　could　earn　more。　　With　the　optimism　of　youth　and　the
serene　self…confidence　which　was　natural　to　him　he　was　sure　of
succeeding　sooner　or　later。　　It　was　not　the　dread　of　failure　and
privation　which　troubled　him。　　The　weight　which　was　pressing　upon
his　spirit　was　not　the　fear　of　what　might　happen　to　him。

There　was　a　rap　upon　the　door。　　Then　a　voice；　the　housekeeper's
voice；　whispered　through　the　crack。

〃It's　me；　Al；〃　whispered　Mrs。　Ellis。　　〃You　ain't　in　bed　yet；　are
you？　　I'd　like　to　talk　with　you　a　minute　or　two；　if　I　might。〃

He　was　not　anxious　to　talk　to　her　or　anyone　else　just　then；　but　he
told　her　to　come　in。　　She　entered　on　tiptoe；　with　the　mysterious
air　of　a　conspirator；　and　shut　the　door　carefully　after　her。

〃May　I　set　down　just　a　minute？〃　she　asked。　　〃I　can　generally　talk
better　settin'。〃

He　pulled　forward　the　ancient　rocker　with　the　rush　seat。　　The
cross…stitch　〃tidy〃　on　the　back　was　his　mother's　handiwork；　she　had
made　it　when　she　was　fifteen。　　Rachel　sat　down　in　the　rocker。

〃Al〃　she　began；　still　in　the　same　mysterious　whisper；　〃I　know　all
about　it。〃

He　looked　at　her。　　〃All　about　what？〃　he　asked。

〃About　the　trouble　you　and　Cap'n　Lote　had　this　afternoon。　　I　know
you're　plannin'　to　leave　us　all　and　go　away　somewheres　and　that　he
told　you　to　go；　and　all　that。　　I　know　what　you've　been　doin'　up
here　to…night。　　Fur's　that　goes；〃　she　added；　with　a　little　catch　in
her　breath　and　a　wave　of　her　hand　toward　the　open　trunk　and
suitcase　upon　the　floor；　〃I　wouldn't　need　to　know；　I　could　SEE。〃

Albert　was　surprised　and　confused。　　He　had　supposed　the　whole
affair　to　be；　so　far；　a　secret　between　himself　and　his　grandfather。

〃You　know？〃　he　stammered。　　〃You　　How　did　you　know？〃

〃Laban　told　me。　　Labe　came　hurryin'　over　here　just　after　supper　and
told　me　the　whole　thing。　　He's　awful　upset　about　it；　Laban　is。　　He
thinks　almost　as　much　of　you　as　he　does　of　Cap'n　Lote　oror　me；〃
with　an　apologetic　little　smile。

Albert　was　astonished　and　troubled。　　〃How　did　Labe　know　about　it？〃
he　demanded。

〃He　heard　it　all。　　He　couldn't　help　hearin'。〃

〃But　he　couldn't　have　heard。　　The　door　to　the　private　office　was
shut。〃

〃Yes；　but　the　window　at　the　topthe　transom　one；　you　knowwas
wide　open。　　You　and　your　grandpa　never　thought　of　that；　I　guess；
and　Laban　couldn't　hop　up　off　his　stool　and　shut　it　without　givin'
it　away　that　he'd　been　hearin'。　　So　he　had　to　just　set　and　listen
and　I　know　how　he　hated　doin'　that。　　Laban　Keeler　ain't　the
listenin'　kind。　　One　thing　about　it　all　is　a　mercy；〃　she　added；
fervently。　　〃It's　the　Lord's　own　mercy　that　that　Issy　Price　wasn't
where　HE　could　hear　it；　too。　　If　Issy　heard　it　you　might　as　well
paint　it　up　on　the　town…hall　fence；　all　creation　and　his　wife
wouldn't　larn　it　any　sooner。〃

Albert　drew　a　long　breath。　　〃Well；〃　he　said；　after　a　moment；　〃I'm
sorry　Labe　heard；　but　I　don't　suppose　it　makes　much　difference。
Everyone　will　know　all　about　it　in　a　day　or　two　。　。　。　　I'm　going。〃

Rachel　leaned　forward。

〃No；　you　ain't；　Al；〃　she　said。

〃I'm　not？　　Indeed　I　am！　　Why；　wh