the portygee-第22章
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as neat as wax。 And 'twas all Helen's work that kept it so； that
was plain enough。 You could see her way of settin' a vase or
puttin' on a table cloth wherever you looked。 Nobody else has just
that way。 And she does it after school or before school or 'most
any odd time。 And whatever 'tis is done right。〃
The housekeeper put in a word。 〃There's no doubt about that；〃 she
said； 〃and there ain't any more doubt that she don't get much help
from her pa or that Maria B。〃 There were so many Prices within the
township limits that individuals were usually distinguished by
their middle initial。 〃As for Mr。 Kendall；〃 went on Rachel； 〃he
moves with his head in the clouds and his feet cruisin' with nobody
at the wheel two…thirds of the time。 Emma Smith says to me
yesterday； says she； 'Mr。 Kendall is a saint on earth； ain't he；'
says she。 'Yes；' says I； 'and he'll be one in heaven any minute if
he goes stumblin' acrost the road in front of Doctor Holliday's
automobile the way I see him yesterday。' The doctor put on the
brakes with a slam and a yell。 The minister stopped right there in
the middle of the road with the front wheels of that auto not
MORE'N two foot from his old baggy trousers' knees； and says he；
'Eh？ Did you want me； Doctor？' The doctor fetched a long breath。
'Why； no； Mr。 Kendall；' he says； 'I didn't； but I come darn nigh
gettin' you。' I don't know what WOULD become of him if he didn't
have Helen to look out for him。〃
As they came to know each other better their conversation dealt
with matters more personal。 They sometimes spoke of plans for the
future。 Albert's plans and ambitions were lofty； but rather vague。
Helen's were practical and definite。 She was to graduate from high
school that spring。 Then she was hoping to teach in the primary
school there in the village； the selectmen had promised her the
opportunity。
〃But； of course；〃 she said； 〃I don't mean to stay here always。
When I can； after I have saved some money and if Father doesn't
need me too badly； I shall go away somewhere； to Bridgewater； or
perhaps to Radcliffe； and study。 I want to specialize in my
teaching； you know。〃
Albert regarded her with amused superiority。
〃I don't see why on earth you are so anxious to be a school…marm；〃
he said。 〃That's the last job I'd want。〃
Her answer was given promptly； but without the least trace of
temper。 That was one of the most provoking things about this girl；
she would not lose her temper。 He usually lost his trying to make
her。 She spoke now； pleasantly； and deliberately； but as if she
were stating an undesirable fact。
〃I think it would be the last one you would get；〃 she said。
〃Why？ Great Scott！ I guess I could teach school if I wanted to。
But you bet I wouldn't want to！ 。 。 。 NOW what are you laughing
at？〃
〃I'm not laughing。〃
〃Yes； you are。 I can always tell when you're laughing； you get
that look in your eyes； that sort ofof Oh； I can't tell you
what kind of look it is； but it makes me mad。 It's the same kind
of look my grandfather has； and I could punch him for it sometimes。
Why should you and he think I'm not going to amount to anything？〃
〃I don't think so。 And I'm sure he doesn't either。 And I wasn't
laughing at you。 Or； if I was； itit was only because〃
〃Well； because what？〃
〃Oh； because you are so AWFULLY sure you knowwell； know more than
most people。〃
〃Meaning I'm stuck on myself； I suppose。 Well； now I tell you I'm
not going to hang around in this one…horse town all my life to
please grandfather or any one else。〃
When he mentioned his determination to win literary glory she was
always greatly interested。 Dreams of histrionic achievement were
more coldly received。 The daughter of a New England country
clergyman； even in these days of broadening horizons； could
scarcely be expected to look with favor upon an actor's career。
June came and with it the first of the summer visitors。 For the
next three months Albert was happy with a new set of acquaintances。
They were HIS kind； these young folks from the city； and his spare
moments were for the most part spent in their society。 He was
popular with them； too。 Some of them thought it queer that he
should be living all the year in the village and keeping books for
a concern like Z。 Snow and Co。； but juvenile society is tolerant
and a youth who could sing passably； dance wonderfully and； above
all； was as beautifully picturesque as Albert Speranza； was
welcomed； especially by the girls。 So the Saturdays and Sundays
and evenings of that summer were pleasant for him。 He saw little
of Helen or Gertie Kendrick while the hotel or the cottages
remained open。
Then came the fall and another long； dreary winter。 Albert plodded
on at his desk or in the yard； following Mr。 Keeler's suggestions；
obeying his grandfather's orders； tormenting Issy； doing his daily
stint because he had to； not because he liked it。 For amusement he
read a good deal； went to the usual number of sociables and
entertainments； and once took part in amateur theatricals； a play
given by the church society in the town hall。 There was where he
shone。 As the dashing young hero he was resplendent。 Gertie
Kendrick gazed upon him from the third settee center with shining
eyes。 When he returned home after it was over his grandmother and
Mrs。 Ellis overwhelmed him with praises。
〃I declare you was perfectly splendid； Albert！〃 exclaimed Olive。
〃I was so proud of you I didn't know what to do。〃
Rachel looked upon him as one might look upon a god from Olympus。
〃All I could think of was Robert Penfold；〃 she said。 〃I says so to
Laban： 'Laban；' says I； ain't he Robert Penfold and nobody else？'
There you was； tellin' that Hannibal Ellis that you was innocent
and some day the world would know you was； just the way Robert
Penfold done in the book。 I never did like that Hannie Ellis！〃
Mrs。 Snow smiled。 〃Mercy； Rachel；〃 she said； 〃I hope you're not
blamin' Hannie because of what he did in that play。 That was his
part； he had to do it。〃
But Rachel was not convinced。 〃He didn't have to be so everlastin'
mean and spiteful about it； anyhow；〃 she declared。 〃But there；
that family of Ellises never did amount to nothin' much。 But； as I
said to Laban； Albert； you was Robert Penfold all over。〃
〃What did Labe say to that？〃 asked Albert； laughing。
〃He never had a chance to say nothin'。 Afore he could answer；
that Maria B。 Priceshe was settin' right back of me and eatin'
molasses candy out of a rattly paper bag till I thought I SHOULD
dieshe leaned forward and she whispered： 'He looks more to me
like that Stevie D。 that used to work for Cap'n Crowell over to
the Center。 Stevie D。 had curly hair like that and HE was part
Portygee； you remember； though there was a little nigger blood in
him； too；' she says。 I could have shook her！ And then she went to
rattlin' that bag again。〃
Even Mr。 Keeler congratulated him at the office next morning。 〃You
done well； Al；〃 he said。 〃Yesyesyes。 You done fust…rate；
fust…rate。〃
His grandfather was the only one who refused to enthuse。
〃Well；〃 inquired Captain Zelotes； sitting down at his desk and
glancing at his grandson over his spectacles； 〃do you cal'late to
be able to get down to earth this mornin' far enough to figger up
the payroll？ You can put what you made from play…actin' on a
separate sheet。 It's about as much as the average person makes at
that job；〃 he added。
Albert's face flushed。 There were times when he hated his
grandfather。 Mr。 Keeler； a moment later； put a hand on his
shoulder。
〃You mustn't mind the old man； Al；〃 he whispered。 〃I expect that
seein' you last night brought your dad's job back to him strong。
He can't bear play…actin'； you know； on your dad's account。 Yes
yes。 That was it。 Yesyesyes。〃
It may have been a truthful explanation； but as an apology it was a
limited success。
〃My father was a gentleman； at any rate；〃 snapped Albert。 Laban
opened his mouth to reply； but closed it again and walked back to
his books。
In May； which was an unusually balmy month； the Congregational
Sunday School gave an automobile excursion and box…luncheon p
