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！
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
mackerel and the dishes of baked potatoes； stewed corn； hot
biscuits and all the rest； to the table is no time； and then； to
Albert's astonishment； sat down at that table herself。 Mrs。 Snow
did the honors。
〃Albert；〃 she said； 〃this is Mrs。 Ellis； who helps me keep house。
Rachel； this is my grandson； AlberterSperanza。〃
She pronounced the surname in a tone almost apologetic。 Mrs。 Ellis
did not attempt to pronounce it。 She extended a plump hand and
observed： 〃Is that so？ Real glad to know you； Albert。 How do you
think you're goin' to like South Harniss？〃
Considering that his acquaintance with the village had been so
decidedly limited； Albert was somewhat puzzled how to reply。 His
grandfather saved him the trouble。
〃Lord sakes； Rachel；〃 he declared； 〃he ain't seen more'n three
square foot of it yet。 It's darker'n the inside of a nigger's
undershirt outdoors to…night。 Well； AlAlbert； I mean； how are
you on mackerel？ Pretty good stowage room below decks？ About so
much； eh？〃
Mrs。 Snow interrupted。
〃Zelotes；〃 she said reprovingly； 〃ain't you forgettin' somethin'？〃
〃Eh？ Forgettin'？ Heavens to Betsy； so I am！ Lord； we thank thee
for these and all other gifts； Amen。 What did I do with the fork；
swallow it？〃
As long as he lives Albert Speranza will not forget that first meal
in the home of his grandparents。 It was so strange； so different
from any other meal he had ever eaten。 The food was good and there
was an abundance of it； but the surroundings were so queer。
Instead of the well…ordered and sedate school meal； here all the
eatables from fish to pie were put upon the table at the same time
and the servantor housekeeper； which to his mind were one and the
samesat down； not only to eat with the family； but to take at
least an equal part in the conversation。 And the conversation
itself was so different。 Beginning with questions concerning his
own journey from the New York town where the school was located； it
at length reached South Harniss and there centered about the
diminutive person of Laban Keeler； his loquacious and tuneful
rescuer from the platform of the railway station。
〃Where are your things； Albert？〃 asked Mrs。 Snow。 〃Your trunk or
travelin' bag； or whatever you had； I mean？〃
〃My trunks are coming by express；〃 began the boy。 Captain Zelotes
interrupted him。
〃Your trunks？〃 he repeated。 〃Got more'n one； have you？〃
〃Whywhy； yes； there are three。 Mr。 Holdenhe is the headmaster；
you know〃
〃Eh？ Headmaster？ Oh； you mean the boss teacher up there at the
school？ Yes； yes。 Um…hm。〃
〃Yes； sir。 Mr。 Holden says the trunks should get here in a few
days。〃
Mrs。 Ellis； the housekeeper； made the next remark。 〃Did I
understand you to say you had THREE trunks？〃 she demanded。
〃Why； yes。〃
〃Three trunks for one boy！ For mercy sakes； what have you got in
'em？〃
〃Whywhy； my things。 My clothes andandeverything。〃
〃Everything； or just about； I should say。 Goodness gracious me；
when I go up to Boston I have all I can do to fill up one trunk。
And I'm bigger'n you arebigger 'round； anyway。〃
There was no doubt about that。 Captain Zelotes laughed shortly。
〃That statement ain't what I'd call exaggerated； Rachel；〃 he
declared。 〃Every time I see you and Laban out walkin' together he
has to keep on the sunny side or be in a total eclipse。 And； by
the way； speakin' of Laban Say； son； how did you and he get
along comin' down from the depot？〃
〃All right。 It was pretty dark。〃
〃I'll bet you！ Laban wasn't very talkative； was he？〃
〃Why； yes； sir； he talked a good deal but he sang most of the
time。〃
This simple statement appeared to cause a most surprising sensation。
The Snows and their housekeeper looked at each other。 Captain
Zelotes leaned back in his chair and whistled。
〃Whew！〃 he observed。 〃Hum！ Sho！ Thunderation！〃
〃Oh； dear！〃 exclaimed his wife。
Mrs。 Ellis； the housekeeper； drew a long breath。 〃I might have
expected it；〃 she said tartly。 〃It's past time。 He's pretty nigh
a month overdue； as 'tis。〃
Captain