the portygee-第3章
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！
comfort and luxury ever since he could remember； and his imagination；
an unusually active one； visualized much more keenly than the
average the tribulations and struggles of a runaway。 David
Copperfield； he remembered； had run away； but he did it when a kid；
not a man like himself。 Nicholas Nicklebyno； Nicholas had not run
away exactly； but his father had died and he had been left to an
uncle。 It would be dreadful if his grandfather should turn out to
be a man like Ralph Nickleby。 Yet Nicholas had gotten on well in
spite of his wicked relative。 Yes； and how gloriously he had defied
the old rascal； too！ He wondered if he would ever be called upon to
defy his grandfather。 He saw himself doing itquietly； a perfect
gentleman always； but with the noble determination of one performing
a disagreeable duty。 His chin lifted and his shoulders squared
against the back of the buggy。
Mr。 Keeler； who had apparently forgotten his passenger altogether；
broke into song；
〃She's my darlin' hanky…panky
And she wears a number two；
Her father keeps a barber shop
Way out in Kalamazoo。〃
He sang the foregoing twice over and then added a chorus； plainly
improvised； made up of 〃Di doos〃 and 〃Di dums〃 ad lib。 And the
buggy rolled up and over the slope of a little hill and； in the
face of a screaming sea wind； descended a long； gentle slope to
where； scattered along a two…mile water frontage； the lights of
South Harniss twinkled sparsely。
〃Did doo dum； dee dum； doo dum
Di doo dum； doo dum dee。〃
So sang Mr。 Keeler。 Then he broke off his solo as the little mare
turned in between a pair of high wooden posts bordering a drive；
jogged along that drive for perhaps fifty feet； and stopped beside
the stone step of a white front door。 Through the arched window
above that door shone lamplight warm and yellow。
〃Whoa！〃 commanded Mr。 Keeler； most unnecessarily。 Then； as if
himself a bit uncertain as to his exact whereabouts； he peered out
at the door and the house of which it was a part； afterward
settling back to announce triumphantly： 〃And here we be！ Yes；
sir； here we be！〃
Then the door opened。 A flood of lamplight poured upon the buggy
and its occupants。 And the boy saw two people standing in the
doorway； a man and a woman。
It was the woman who spoke first。 It was she who had opened the
door。 The man was standing behind her looking over her shoulder
over her head really； for he was tall and broad and she short and
slender。
〃Is it？〃 she faltered。
Mr。 Keeler answered。 〃Yes； ma'am；〃 he declared emphatically；
〃that's who 'tis。 Here we beererwhat's…your…nameEdward。
Jump right out。〃
His passenger alighted from the buggy。 The woman bent forward to
look at him； her hands clasped。
〃Itit's Albert； isn't it？〃 she asked。
The boy nodded。 〃Yes；〃 he said。
The hands unclasped and she held them out toward him。 〃Oh；
Albert；〃 she cried； 〃I'm your grandmother。 I〃
The man interrupted。 〃Wait till we get him inside； Olive；〃 he
said。 〃Come in； son。〃 Then； addressing the driver； he ordered：
〃Labe； take the horse and team out to the barn and unharness for
me； will you？〃
〃Ye…es； yes； yes；〃 replied Mr。 Keeler。 〃Yes indeed； Cap'n。 Take
her right alongright off。 Yes indeedy。 Git dap！〃
He drove off toward the end of the yard； where a large building；
presumably a barn； loomed black against the dark sky。 He sang as
he drove and the big man on the step looked after him and sniffed
suspiciously。
Meanwhile the boy had followed the little woman into the house
through a small front hall； from which a narrow flight of stairs
shot aloft with almost unbelievable steepness； and into a large
room。 Albert had a swift impression of big windows full of plants；
of pictures of ships and schooners on the walls； of a table set for
four。
〃Take your things right off；〃 cried his grandmother。 〃Here； I'll
take 'em。 There！ now turn 'round and let me look at you。 Don't
move till I get a good look。〃
He stood perfectly still while she inspected him from head to foot。
〃You've got her mouth；〃 she said slowly。 〃Yes； you've got her
mouth。 Her hair and eyes were brown and yours are black； butbut
I THINK you look like her。 Oh； I did so want you to！ May I kiss
you； Albert？ I'm your grandmother； you know。〃
With embarrassed shyness he leaned forward while she put her arms
about his neck and kissed him on the cheek。 As he straightened
again he became aware that the big man had entered the room and was
regarding him intently beneath a pair of shaggy gray eyebrows。
Mrs。 Snow turned。
〃Oh； Zelotes；〃 she cried； 〃he's got Janie's mouth； don't you think
so？ And he DOES look like her； doesn't he？〃
Her husband shook his head。 〃Maybe so； Mother；〃 he said； with a
half smile。 〃I ain't a great hand for locatin' who folks look
like。 How are you； boy？ Glad to see you。 I'm your grandfather；
you know。〃
They shook hands； while each inspected and made a mental estimate
of the other。 Albert saw a square； bearded jaw； a firm mouth； gray
eyes with many wrinkles at the corners； and a shock of thick gray
hair。 The eyes had a way of looking straight at you； through you；
as if reading your thoughts； divining your motives and making a
general appraisal of you and them。
Captain Zelotes Snow； for his part； saw a tall young fellow； slim
and straight； with black curly hair； large black eyes and regular
features。 A good…looking boy； a handsome boyalmost too handsome；
perhaps； or with just a touch of the effeminate in the good looks。
The captain's glance took in the well…fitting suit of clothes； the
expensive tie； the gold watch chain。
〃Humph！〃 grunted Captain Zelotes。 〃Well； your grandma and I are
glad to have you with us。 Let me see； Albertthat's your right
name； ain't itAlbert？〃
Something in his grandfather's looks or tone aroused a curious
feeling in the youth。 It was not a feeling of antagonism； exactly；
but more of defiance； of obstinacy。 He felt as if this big man；
regarding him so keenly from under the heavy brows； was looking for
faults； was expecting to find something wrong； might almost be
disappointed if he did not find it。 He met the gaze for a moment；
the color rising to his cheeks。
〃My name；〃 he said deliberately； 〃is Alberto Miguel Carlos
Speranza。〃
Mrs。 Snow uttered a little exclamation。 〃Oh！〃 she ejaculated。 And
then added： 〃Whywhy； I thoughtwewe understood 'twas
'Albert。' We didn't know there waswe didn't know there was any
more to it。 What did you say it was？〃
Her grandson squared his shoulders。 〃Alberto Miguel Carlos
Speranza；〃 he repeated。 〃My father〃there was pride in his voice
now〃my father's name was Miguel Carlos。 Of course you knew
that。〃
He spoke as if all creation must have known it。 Mrs。 Snow looked
helplessly at her husband。 Captain Zelotes rubbed his chin。
〃Well；〃 he drawled dryly； 〃I guess likely we'll get along with
'Albert' for a spell。 I cal'late 'twill come more handy to us Cape
folks。 We're kind of plain and everyday 'round here。 Sapper's
ready； ain't it； Mother？ Al must be hungry。 I'm plaguey sure _I_
am。〃
〃But； Zelotes； maybe he'd like to go up to his bedroom first。 He's
been ridin' a long ways in the cars and maybe he'd like to wash up
or change his clothes？〃
〃Change his clothes！ Lord sakes； Olive； what would he want to
change his clothes this time of night for？ You don't want to
change your clothes； do you； boy？〃
〃No； sir； I guess not。〃
〃Sartin sure you don't。 Want to wash？ There's a basin and soap
and towel right out there in the kitchen。〃
He pointed to the kitchen door。 At that moment the door was
partially opened and a brisk feminine voice from behind it
inquired： 〃How about eatin'？ Are you all ready in there？〃
It was Captain Snow who answered。
〃You bet we are； Rachel！〃 he declared。 〃All ready and then some。
Trot her out。 Sit down； Mother。 Sit down； Al。 Now then； Rachel；
all aboard。〃
Rachel； it appeared； was the owner of the brisk feminine voice just
mentioned。 She was brisk herself； as to age about forty； plump；
rosy and very business…like。 She whisked the platter of fried
