第4章
"Yes，butmaybeyoudon’trealizetheamountoftheobligations。
I’mriskin’myjobkeepin’youhere。Ifitwa’n’tforthesuperintendentbein’suchafriendofmine，there’dhavebeenareg’larassistantkeeperapp’intedlongago。Thegov’mentdon’tpickupitslightkeeperssameasyouwouldfarmhands。There’scivilservicetobegonethrough，andthelikeofthat。Butyouwantedtostay，andI’vekeptyou，riskin’myownjob，asIsaid。
AndnowIcal’latewe’dbetterhaveaplainunderstandin’。You’vegottoknowjustwhatyourjobis。I’mgoin’totellyou。"
Hestopped，asiftoletthissinkin。Brownnoddedagain。"Allright，"heobserved，carelessly；"goonandtellme；I’mlistening。"
"Yourjobaroundthelightsyouknowalready，partofit。Butthere’ssomethin’else。Whenevermenfolkscomehere，I’lldomyshareofshowin’theplaceoff。Butwhenwomencome——women，youunderstand——you’vegottobeguide。I’llforgiveyouto-day’sdoin’s。Itriedtoplayajokeonyou，andyoueveneditupwithabetteroneonme。That’sallright。But，afterthis，showin’thelightstofemalesisyourjob，andyou’vegottodoit——orgetout。
Nohardfeelin’satall，andI’dreallyhatetoloseyou，butTHAT’S
gottobeasIsay。"
Herose，evidentlyconsideringtheaffairsettled。Browncaughthiscoatandpulledhimbacktothebench。
"Wait，Atkins，"hesaid。"I’mgratefultoyouforyourkindness，I
likeyouandI’dliketopleaseyou；butifwhatyousayisfinal，then——astheyusedtosayinsomeplayorother——’Iguessyou’llhavetohireanotherboy。’"
"What？Youmeanyou’llquit？"
"Ratherthandothat——yes。"
"Butwhy？"
"Forreasons，asItoldyou。Bytheway，youhaven’ttoldmewhyyouobjecttoactingasguideto——females。"
"Becausetheyarefemales。They’rewomen，darn’em！"
Beforehishelpercouldcommentonthisdeclaration，itwasrepeated。Thelightkeepershookbothhisbigfistsintheair。
"Darn’em！Darnallthewomen！"shoutedSethAtkins。
"Amen，"saidJohnBrown，devoutly。
Seth’sfistsdroppedintohislap。"What？"hecried；"whatdidyousay？"
"IsaidAmen。"
"But——but……why……youdidn’tmeanit！"
"Didn’tI？"bitterly。"Humph！"
Sethbreathedheavily，startedtospeakoncemore，closedhislipsonthewords，rose，walkedawayafewpaces，returned，andsatdown。
"JohnBrown，"hesaid，solemnly，"ifyou’rejokin’，thepowersforgiveyou，forIwon’t。Ifyouain’t，I——I……Seehere，doyourememberwhatyouaskedmethatnightwhenyoustruckmefortheassistantkeeper’sjob？YouaskedmeifIwasmarried？"
Brownassentedwonderingly。"Why，yes，"hesaid，"IbelieveIdid。"
"Youdid。AndIain’tbeensoshookupformanyaday。Youngfeller，I’mgoin’totellyouwhatnoothermaninOstableCountyknows。IAMmarried。I’vegotawifelivin’。"
CHAPTERVII
OUTOFTHEBAG
"I’mmarried，andI’vegotawifelivin’，"continuedSeth；addinghurriedlyandfiercely，"don’tyousaynothin’tome！Don’tyouputmeout。I’mgoin’totellyou！I’mgoin’totellyouallofit——
all，bytime！Iam，ifIdieforit。"
Hewasspeakingsorapidlythatthewordswerejumbledtogether。Heknockedhishatfromhisforeheadwithablowofhisfistandactuallypantedforbreath。Brownhadneverbeforeseenhiminthiscondition。
"Holdon！Wait，"hecried。"Atkins，youneedn’tdothis；youmustn’t。Iamaskingnoquestions。Weagreedto——"
"Hushup！"Sethwavedbothhandsintheair。"DON’Tyoutalk！Letmegetthisoffmychest。Goodheavensalive，I’vebeensmotherin’
myselfwithitforyears，and，nowI’vegotstarted，I’llblowoffsteamormyb’iler’llbust。I’mGOIN’totellyou。Youlisten——
"Yes，sir，I’mamarriedman，"hewenton。"Iwa’n’talwaysmarried，youunderstand。Iusedtobesingleonce。OnceIwassingle；see？"
"Isee，"saidBrown，repressingasmile。
Sethwasnotawarethattherewasanythinghumorousinhisstatement。
"Yes，"hesaid，"Iwassingleand——andhappy，byjiminy！Iwasskipperofamack’relschoonerdownCapeAnnway，nevermindwhere，andSethAtkinsisonlypartofmyname；nevermindthat，neither。
IsailedthatschoonerandIrunthatschooner——IRUNher；andwhenIsaid’boo’allhandsaboardjumped，Itellyou。WhenI’vegotsaltwaterunderneathme，I’maman。ButItoldyouthatafore。
"However，thisiswhatIdidn’ttellyounornobodyelseinthispartofthestate：IstayedsingletillIgottobepastforty。
Everybodysetmedownasanoldbach。ThenImetawoman；yes，sir，Imetawoman。"
Hemadethisassertionasifitwassomethingremarkable。Hiscompaniononthebenchmadenocomment。
"Shewasawidowwoman，"wentonSeth，"andshehadalittlepropertyleftherbyherfirsthusband。Ownedahouseandland，shedid，andhadsomemoneyinthebank。Somefolkscal’latedImarriedherforthat，buttheycal’latedwrong。Iwantedherforherself。
AndIgother。HernamewasEmeline。IalwaysthoughtEmelinewasasortofprettyname。"
Hesighed。BrownobservedthatEmelinewasaveryprettyname，indeed。
"Um-hm。That’swhatIthought，andEmelinewasarealprettywoman，forherageandheft——shewasfleshy。Shehadsomeconsider’bleprejudiceagainstmygoin’tosea，soIagreedtostayonshoreaspellandfarmit，asyoumightsay。Welivedinthehousesheownedandwasrealhappytogether。Shebossedmearoundagooddeal，butIdidn’tmindbein’bossedbyher。’Twasachange，yousee，forI’dalwaysbeenusedtobossin’otherfolks。SoIhumoredher。And，bein’onlandmademelosemy——mygriporsomethin’；
’causeIseemedtoforgethowtoboss。Butwewashappy，andthen——
thenBennieD。come。Consarnhim！"
Histeethshutwithasnap，andhestruckhiskneewithhisfist。
"Consarnhim！"herepeated，andwassilent。
Thesubstituteassistantventuredtojoghismemory。
"WhowasBennieD。？"heasked。
"What？Hey？BennieD。？Oh，hewasherbrother-in-law，herhusband’sbrotherfromupBostonway。Hewasagenius——atleast，hesaidhewas——andaninventor。TheonlyinventionIevercouldl’arnhe’dinventedtoafinishwashowtolivewithoutworkin’，buthe’dgotthatbroughttoascience。However，hewasforeverfussin’oversomekindofmachinethatwassartinsuretogivepowertotheuniverse，when’twasdone，andEmeline’shusband——hisnamewasAbner——thoughttheworldandallofhim。’ForehediedhemadeEmelinepromisetoalwaysbekindtoBennieD。，andshesaidshewould。Abnerlefthimalittlemoney，andhespentittravelin’
’forhishealth。’Idon’tknowwherehetraveledto，but，wherever’twas，thehealthmusthavebeenthere。HewasthehealthiestcrittereverIsee——andthelaziest。
"Well，histravelsbein’over，downhecomestomakehissister-in-
lawalittlevisit。Andhestaysonandstayson。Henevertooknoshinetome——IjudgehefiggeredIhadn’tnobusinesssharin’
Abner’sproperty——andInevertooktohim，much。
"EmelinenoticedBennieD。andmewa’n’tfallin’oneachother’snecksanytospeakof，andittroubledher。Sheblamedmeforit。
SaidBenniewasagenius，andgeniuseshadsensitivenaturesandhadtobetreatedwithconsiderationanddifferentfromotherfolks。
AndthatpromisetoAbnerweighedonherconscience，Ical’late。
Anyhow，shepettedthatblameinventor，anditmadememad。AndyetIdidn’tsaymuch——notsomuchasI’doughtto，Iguess。AndBennieD。wasalwaysheavin’outlittlesideremarksaboutEmeline’sbein’
fittedforbetterthingsthanshewasgettin’，andhow，whenhisinventionwas’perfected，’HE’Dseethatshedidn’tslaveherselftodeath，andsoonandsoon。Andhehadconsider’bletosayaboutfolkstryin’tofarmwhentheydidn’tknowacucumberfromawatermelon，andhow’farmin’’wasagoodexcusefordoin’nothin’，andsuch。AndIdidn’thaveanygoodanswertothat，’causeIdoknowmoreaboutseaweedthanIdocucumbers，andthefarmwasn’tpayin’andIknewit。
"Ifhe’dsaidthesethingsrightoutplain，IguesslikelyI’dhavegivehimwhathedeserved。Buthedidn’t；hejusthintedandsmiledandactedsuperiorandpityin’。AndifIgotmadandhoveoutalittlesailortalkbyaccident，he’dlookassorryandshockedastheCome-Outerparsondoeswhenthere’sababyborntoaUniversalistfamily。He’dgetupandshutthedoor，asifhewasscarttheneighbors’moralswouldsuffer——thoughtheonlyneighborwithinhearin’wasanoldcritterthatusedtorunabilliardsalooninGloucester，andHISmoralshadbeenputoutoftheirmiseryfortyyearsafore——andhe’dsuggestthatEmelinebetterleavetheroom，maybe。AndthenI’dfeelashamedandwouldn’tknowwhattodo，and’twouldend，more’nlikely，bymyleavin’itmyself。
"Youcanseehowmatterswasdriftin’。Icouldseeplainenough，andIcal’lateEmelinecould，too——I’llgivehercreditforthat。
Shedidn’tbegintolookashappyasshehad，andthatmademefeelworsethanever。Onetime，Ifoundhercryin’inthewashroom，andIwentupandputmyarmroundher。
"’Emeline，’Isays，’don’t；pleasedon’t。Don’tcry。IknowI
ain’tthehusbandI’doughttobetoyou，butI’mdoin’mybest。
I’mtryin’todoit。Iain’tagenius，’Isays。
"Sheinterruptedmequick，sortofhalflaughin’andhalfcryin’。
’No，Seth，’saysshe，’youain’t，that’safact。’
"Thatmademesortofmad。’No，Iain’t，’Isaysagain；’andifyouaskme，I’dsayoneinthehousewasenough，andtospare。’
"’Iknowyoudon’tlikeBennie，’shesays。
"’’Taintthat，’saysI，whichwasalie。’Itain’tthat，’Isays；
’butsomehowIdon’tseemtofitaroundhere。Bennieandme，wedon’tseemtobelongtogether。’
"’HeisAbner’sbrother，’shesays，’andIpromisedAbner。Ican’ttellhimtogo。Ican’ttellhimtoleavethishouse，hisbrother’shouse。’
"Now，consarnit，therewasanotherthing。ItWASAbner’shouse，orhadbeenaforehedied，andnow’twashers。IfIeverforgotthatfact，whichwa’n’tbynomeanslikelytohappen，BennieD。tookoccasionsenoughtoremindmeofit。SoIwassetbackagainwithmycanvasflappin’，asyoumightsay。
"’No，’saysI，’courseyoucan’t。He’syourbrother-in-law。’
"’Butyouaremyhusband，’shesays，lookin’atmekindofqueer。
Anyhow，itseemskindofqueertomenow。I’vethoughtaboutthatlookagooddealsince，andsometimesI’vewonderedif——if……
However，that’sallpastandby。
"’Yes，’Isays，prettyaveragebitter，’butsecondhusbandsdon’tcountformuch。’
"’Someof’emdon’tseemto，that’safact，’shesays。
"’Byjiminy，’Isays，’Idon’tcountformuchinthishouse。’
"’Yes？’saysshe。’Andwhosefaultisthat？’
"Well，IWASmad。’ItellyouwhatICANdo，’Isingsout。’Icanquitthislandlubber’sjobwhereI’mnothin’butaswab，andgotoseaagain，whereI’msomeaccount。That’swhatIcando。’
"Sheturnedandlookedatme。
"’Youpromisedmenevertogotoseaagain，shesays。
"’Humph！’saysI；’somepromisesarehardtokeep。’
"’Ikeepmine，hardornot，’saysshe。’Wouldyougoawayandleaveme？’
"’You’vegotBrotherBennie，’saysI。’He’sagenius；Iain’tnothin’butaman。’
"Shelaughed，prettyscornful。’Areyousartinyou’rethat？’shewantedtoknow。
"’NotsinceIbeenlivin’here，Iain’t，’Isays。Andthatendedthattryofmakin’up。
"Andfromthenonitgotworseandworse。Therewan’tmuchcomfortathomewheretheinventorwas，soItooktostayin’outnights。
Wentdowntothestoreandhungaround，listenin’tofools’gabble，andwishin’Iwasdead。AndthemoreIstayedout，themoreBennieD。laughedandsneeredandhinted。Andthencomethatridic’lousbusinessaboutSarahAnnChristy。Thatendeditforgoodandall。"
Sethpausedinhislongstoryandlookedoutacrossthestarlitsea。
"WhowasSarahAnn？"askedBrown。Thelightkeeperseemedmuchembarrassed。
"Shewasabornfool，"hedeclared，withemphasis；"bornthatwayandbeendevelopin’extryfoolishnesseversince。Shewasawidow，too；beengoodlookin’onceandcouldn’tforgetit，andsheliveddownnighthestore。WhenI’dbegoin’downorcomin’back，justaslikelyasnotshewassettin’onthepiazza，andshe’dhailme。I
didn’twanttostopandtalktoher，ofcourse。"
"No，ofcoursenot。"
"Well，IDIDN’T。AndIdidn’tHAVEtotalk。Couldn’tifIwantedto；shedoneitall。Hertonguewashungonball-bearin’hingesandwasaself-winderguaranteedtorunanhoursteadyeverytimeshesetitgoin’。Talk！myjiminycrimps，howthatwomancouldtalk！I
couldn’tgetaway；Itriedto，but，mysoul，shewouldn’tletme。
And，if’twasawarmnight，she’dmore’nlikelyhaveapitcheroflemonadeorsomesortofcoldwashalongside，andImuststopandtasteit。Bytime，Icantasteityet！
"Well，therewa’n’tnoharminheratall；shewasjustafoolthathadtotalktosomebody，malespreferred。Butmystayin’outnightswasn’thelpin’thejoyfulnessofthingstohome，andoneevenin’——
oneevenin’……Oh，there！IstartedtotellyouthisandI
might’swellgetitover。
"Thisevenin’whenIcamehomefromthestoreIseesomethin’wasextrywrongsoon’sIstruckthesettin’room。Emelinewasthere，andBennieD。，andIgiveyoumyword，Ifeltliketurnin’upmycoatcollar，’twassofrosty。’Twashotter’nasteamer’sstoke-holeoutside，butthatroomwasfortybelowzero。
"NobodySAIDnothin’，youknow——thatwastheworstofit；butI’dhavebeengladiftheyhad。Finally，Isaiditmyself。’Well，Emeline，’saysI，’hereIbe。’
"Noanswer，soItriedagain。’Well，Emeline，’saysI，’I’vefetchedportfinally。’
"Shedidn’tanswermethen，butBennieD。laughed。Hehadawayoflaughin’thatmadeotherfolkswanttocry——orkillhim。ForchoiceI’dhavedonethekillin’first。
"’Morenauticalconversation，sister，’sayshe。’Heknowshowfondyouareofthatsortofthing。’
"Yousee，Emelineneverdidliketohearmetalksailortalk；itremindedhertoomuchthatIusedtobeasailor，Is’pose。Andthatinventorknewshedidn’tlikeit，andsoherubbeditineverytimeImadeaslip。’Twasjustoneofhislittleways；hehadamillionof’em。
"ButItriedoncemore。’Emeline，’Isays，’I’mhome。Can’tyouspeaktome？’
"Thenshelookedatme。’Yes，Seth，’saysshe，’Iseeyouarehome。’
"’Atlast，’putinbrother-in-law，’"Thereisnoplacelikehome"——
whentheotherplacesareshutup。’Andhelaughedagain。
"’Stop，Bennie，’saysEmeline，andhestopped。Thatwasanotherofhislittleways——todoanythingsheaskedhim。Thensheturnedtome。
"’Seth，’sheasks，’wherehaveyoubeen？’
"’Oh，downstreet，’saysI，casual。’It’sturriblewarmout。’
"Sheneverpaidnoattentiontotheweathersignals。’Where’boutsdownstreet？’shewantedtoknow。
"’Oh，downtothestore，’Isays。
"’Yougotothestoreagooddeal，don’tyou，’saysshe。BennieD。
chuckled，andthenbeggedherpardon。Thatchucklestirredmymadup。
"’Igowherefolksseemtobegladtoseeme，’Isays。’WheretheytreatmeasifIwassomebody。’
"’Soyouwasatthestorethewholeevenin’？’sheasks。
"’CourseIwas，’saysI。’WhereelsewouldIbe？’
"Shelookedatmehard，andherfacesortofset。Shedidn’tanswer，buttookupthesewin’inherlapandwenttoworkonit。I
remembershedroppeditonce，andBennieD。jumpedtopickitupforher，quickasawink。Isetdownintherockin’chairandtooktheGloucesterpaper。ButIdidn’treallyread。Theclocktickedandticked，and’twassostillyoucouldheareverystrokeofthependulum。Finally，Icouldn’tstanditnolonger。
"’Whatonearthisthematter？’Isingsout。’WhathaveIdonethistime？Don’tyouWANTmetogotothestore？Isthatit？’
"Sheputdownhersewin’。’Seth，’saysshe，quietbutawfulcold，’Iwantyoutogoanywheresthatyouwanttogo。Inever’llstandinyourway。ButIwantyoutellthetruthaboutitafterwards。’
"’Thetruth？’saysI。’Don’tIalwaystellyouthetruth？’
"’No，’saysshe。’You’veliedtometonight。You’vebeencallin’
ontheChristywoman，andyouknowit。’
"Well，youcouldhaveknockedmedownwithababy’srattle。I’dforgotallaboutthatfoolSarahAnn。Ical’lateIturnednineteendifferentshadesofred，andforaminuteIcouldn’tthinkofawordtosay。AndBennieD。smiled，wickedastheOldHarryhimself。
"’How——howdidyou——howdoyouknowIseeSarahAnnChristy？’I
holleredout，soon’sIcouldgetmybreath。
"’Becauseyouwereseenthere，’saysshe。
"’Whoseeme？’
"’Idid，’saysshe。’Iwentdownstreetmyself，onanerrand，and，bein’asyouweren’theretogowithme，Benniewasgoodenoughtogo。Itain’tpleasantforawomantogooutaloneafterdark，and——
andIhaveneverbeenusedtoit，’shesays。
"Thatkindofhurtmeandprickedmyconscience，asyoumaysay。
"’YouknowI’dbeentickledtodeathtogowithyou，Emeline，’I
says。’Anytime，youknowit。Butyouneveraskedmetogowithyou。’
"’Howlonghasitbeensinceyouaskedtogowithme？’shesays。
"’Doyoureallywantmetogoanywheres，Emeline？’saysI，eager。
’Doyou？Is’posedyoudidn’t。Ifyou’dasked——’
"’WhyshouldIalwaysdotheaskin’？Mustawifealwaysaskherhusband？Doesn’tthehusbandeverdoanythingonhisownresponsibility？Seth，ImarriedyoubecauseIthoughtyouwasastrong，self-reliantman，whowouldadvisemeandprotectmeand——’
"Thatcussedinventorbustintothetalkrighthere。Ical’latehethoughttwastime。
"’Excuseme，sister，’hesays；’don’thumiliateyourselfaforehim。
Rememberyouandmesawhimtonight，sawhimwithourowneyes，settin’onadarkpiazzawithanotherwoman。Drinkin’withherand——’
"’Drinkin’！’Iyells。
"’Yes，drinkin’，’sayshe，solemn。’Idon’twonderyouareashamedofit。’
"’Ashamed！Iain’tashamed。’
"’Youhearthat，sister？NOWIhopeyou’reconvinced。’
"’’Twa’n’tnothin’butlemonadeIwasdrinkin’，’Ihollers，prettynighcrazy。’Sheaskedmetostopandhaveaglass’cause’twassohot。Andasforcallin’onher，Iwa’n’t。Iwasjustpassin’by，andshesingsoutwhatadreadfulnight’twas，andIsaid’twas，too，andshesayswon’tIhavesomethin’coldtodrink。That’salltherewastoit。’
"AforeEmelinecouldanswer，Benniecomesbackatmeagain。
"’Perhapsyou’lltellusthiswasthefirsttimeyouhavevisitedher，’hepurrs。
"Well，thatwasasockdolager，’causetwa’n’tthefirsttime。I
don’tknowhowmanytimes’twas。Ineverkeptnoaccountof’em。
Toogladtogetawayfromhereverlastin’tongue-clackin’。Butwhen’twasputrightuptomethisway，I——IdeclareIwasallfussedup。
IfeltsickandIguessIlookedso。Emelinewaslookin’atmeandseemin’lywaitin’formetosaysomethin’；yetIcouldn’tsayit。
AndBennieD。laughed，quietbutwicked。
"Thatlaughfixedme。Iswungroundandlitintohim。
"’Youmindyourownbusiness，’Iroars。’Ain’tyouashamed，makin’
troublewithaman’swifeinhisownhouse？’
"’Iwasundertheimpressionthehousebelongedtomysister-in-
law，’hesays。AndagainIwasknockedoffmypins。
"’Yougreatbigloafer！’Iyelledathim；’settin’heredoin’
nothin’butraisin’thedivilgenerally！I——I——’
"HejumpedasifI’dstuckabrad-awlintohim。Theshockedexpressioncameacrosshisfaceagain，andherunstoEmelineandtakesherarm。
"’Sister，sister，’hesays，quick，butgentle，’thisisnoplaceforyou。Languagelikethatis……there！there！don’tyouthinkyou’dbetterleavetheroom？’
"Shedidn’tgo。AsIrememberitnow，itkeepscomin’backtomethatshedidn’tgo。Shejuststoodstillandlookedatme。Andthenshesays：’Seth，whydidyoulietome？’
’Ididn’tlie，’Ishouts。’Iforgot，Itellyou。IneverthoughtthatwindmillofaChristywomanwasenoughimportancetoremember。
Ididn’tlietoyou——Ineverdid。Oh，Emeline，youknowIdidn’t。
What’sthematterwithyouandme，anyway？Weusedtobeallrightandnowwe’reallwrong。’
"’Oneofusis，’saysBennieD。Thatwasthefinalstrawthatchokedthecamel。
"’Yes，’Isaystohim，’that’sright，oneofusis，andIdon’tknowwhich。ButIknowthis：youandIcan’tstaytogetherinthishouseanylonger。’
"Icanseethatroomnow，as’twaswhenIsaidthat。Usthreelookin’ateachother，andtheclocka-tickin’，andeverythingelsestillasstill。Ichoked，butIkepton。
"’Imeanit，’Isays。’EitheryouclearoutofthishouseorIdo。’
"And，whilethewordswasonmylips，againitcametomestrongthatitwa’n’treallymyhouseatall。Iturnedtomywife。
"’Emeline，’saysI，’it’sgottobe。Youmusttellhimtogo，orelse——’
"She’dbeenlookin’atmeagainwiththatkindofqueerlookinhereyes，almostahopefullook，seem’sif’twas，andyetitcouldn’thavebeen，ofcourse。Nowshedrawedalongbreath。
"’Ican’ttellhimtogo，Seth，’saysshe。’IpromisedtogivehimahomeaslongasIhadone。’
"Isetmyjawstogether。’Allright，’Isays；’thenI’Mgoin’。
Goodby。’
"AndIwent。Yes，sir，Iwent。JustasIwas，withoutanyhatordunnageofanykind。WhenIslammedthebackdooritseemedasifI
heardhersingoutmyname。Iwaited，butIguessIwasmistaken，forshedidn’tcallitagain。And——andIneverseteyesonhersince。No，sir，notonce。"
Thelightkeeperstopped。JohnBrownsaidnothing，buthelaidahandsympatheticallyontheolderman’sshoulder。Sethshuddered，straightened，andwenton。
"Iclearedoutofthattownthatverynight，"hesaid。"WalkedclearintoGloucester，putupatataverntheretillmornin’，andthentookthecarstoBoston。Ical’latedfustthatI’dshipasmateorsomethin’onaforeignvoyage，butIcouldn’t；somehowI
couldn’tbringmyselftodoit。Yousee，I’dpromisedherI
wouldn’tevergotoseaagain，andso——well，Iwasadumidiot，I
s’pose，butIwouldn’tbreakthepromise。Iknewthesuperintendentoflighthousesinthisdistrict，andI’dbeenanassistantkeeperwhenIwasyounger。Itoldhimmyyarn，andhetoldmeaboutthisjob。Ichangedmyname，passedtheexaminationandcomedirectlyhere。AndhereI’vestayedeversince。"
Hepausedagain。Brownventuredtoaskanotherquestion。
"Andyour——andthelady？"heasked。"Whereisshe？"
"Idon’tknow。Livin’inherhousebackthereonCapeAnn，I
s’pose。Shewas，lastIknew。Ineverasknoquestions。Iwanttoforget——toforget，bytime！……Hihum！……Well，nowyouknowwhatnobodythissideofBostonknows。AndyoucanunderstandwhyI’mwillin’tobeburiedalivedownhere。’Causeawomanwreckedmylife；I’mdonewithwomen；andtothisforsakenholenowomenscarcelyevercome。But，whentheyDOcome，youmustunderstandthatIexpectyoutoshow’emround。Afterhearin’whatI’vebeenthrough，Iguessyou’llbewillin’todothatmuchforme。"
Herose，evidentlyconsideringtheaffairsettled。Brownstrokedhischin。
"I’msorry，Atkins，"heobserved，slowly；"andIcertainlydosympathizewithyou。But——but，asIsaid，’Iguessyou’llhavetohireanotherboy！’"
"What？Whatdoyoumean？"
"Imeanthatyou’renottheonlywoman-hateronthebeach。"
"Hey？HasawomangivenYOUthegoby？"
"No。Theotherwayaround，ifanything。Lookhere，Atkins！I’mnotinthehabitofdiscussingmyprivateaffairswithacquaintances，butyou’vebeenfrankwithme——andwell，hangit！
I’vegottotalktosomebody。Atleast，Ifeelthatwayjustnow。
Let’ssupposeacase。Supposeyouwereayoungfellownotlongoutofcollege——ayoungfellowwhosemotherwasdeadandwhosedadwasrich，andheadoverheelsinmoney-making，andwiththeideathathiswillwasnomoretobedisputedthanalawoftheAlmighty。
Justsupposethat，willyou？"
"Huh！Well，’twillbehardsupposin’，butI’lltry。Heaveahead。"
"Supposethatyou’dneverbeenusedtoworkingorsupportingyourself。Hadaposition，anominalone，inyourdad’sofficebutabsolutelynoresponsibility，allthemoneyyouwanted，andsoon。
Supposebecauseyourfatherwantedyouto——andHERpeoplefeltthesame——youhadbecomeengagedtoagirl，aniceenoughgirl，too，inherway。But，thensupposethatlittlebylittleyoucametorealizethatherwaywasn’tyours。Youandshelikedeachotherwellenough，butthewholethingwasafamilyarrangement，amoneyarrangement，aperfectlyrespectable，buy-and-sellaffair。Thatandnothingelse。Andthemoreyouthoughtaboutit，thesureryoufeltthatitwasso。Butwhenyoutoldyourgovernorhegotonhisearandsailedintoyou，andyousailedback，untilfinallyhesworethatyoushouldeithermarrythatgirlorhe’dthrowyououtofhishouseandofficetorootforyourself。Whatwouldyoudo？"
"Hey？Landsakes！Idon’tknow。IalwaysHADtoroot，soIain’tacompetentjudge。Goon，you’vegotmeinterested。"
"Well，IsaidI’droot，that’sall。ButIdidn’thavethenervetogoandtellthegirl。Theengagementhadbeenannounced，andallthat，andIknewwhatamessitwouldmakeforher。Isatinmyroom，amongthethingsIwaspackinginmygriptotakewithme，andthoughtandthought。IfIwenttohertherewouldbeascene。IfI
saidIhadbeendisinheritedshewouldwanttoknowwhy——naturally。
Ihadquarreledwiththegovernor——yes，butwhy？ThenIshouldhavetotellhertherealreason：Ididn’twanttomarryheroranybodyelseonsuchabargain-counterbasis。Thatseemedsucharottenthingtosay，andshemightaskwhyithadtakenmesuchalongtimetofinditout。No，IjustCOULDN’Ttellherthat。So，aftermythinkwasover，IwroteheranotesayingthatmyfatherandIhadhadadisagreementandhehadchuckedmeout，orwordstothateffect。Naturally，underthecircumstances，marriagewasoutofthequestion，andIreleasedherfromtheengagement。Goodbyandgoodluck——orsomethingsimilar。Imailedtheletterandleftthetownthenextmorning。"
Hepaused。Thelightkeepermadenocomment。Afteramomenttheyoungmancontinued。
"IlandedinBoston，"hesaid，"fullofconceitandhigh-mindedideasofworkingmyownwayuptheladder。Butinordertoworkup，you’vegottogetatleastahand-holdonthebottomrung。I
couldn’tgetit。Nobodywantedagenteelloafer，whichwasme。Mymoneygaveout。Iboughtasteamboatpassagetoanothercity，butI
didn’thaveenoughlefttobuyasquaremeal。Then，bybullluck，I
felloverboardandlandedhere。AndhereIfoundthesolution。I’mdead。Ifthegovernorgetssoft-heartedandgetsprivatedetectivesonmytrail，they’llfindIdisappearedfromthatsteamer，that’sall。Drowned，ofcourse。SHE’LLthinkso，too。’Goodriddancetobadrubbish’isthegeneralverdict。Icanstayhereayearorso，andthen，beingdeadandforgotten，cangobacktocivilizationandhustleformyself。BUTawomanisatthebottomofmytrouble，andIneverwanttoseeanother。So，ifmystayingheredependsuponmyseeingthem，Iguess，asI’vesaidtwicealready，’you’llhavetohireanotherboy。’"
He，too，rose。Sethlaidabighandonhisshoulder。
"Son，"saidthelightkeeper，"I’msorryforyou；Ical’lateIknowhowyoufeel。Ilikeyoufust-rate，andifit’sapossiblething，I’llfixitso’syoucanstayrightherelong’syouwantto。Asforwomenfolksthatdocome——why，we’lldodge’emifwecan，andshareresponsibilityifwemust。Butthere’sonethingyou’veGOTtounderstand。You’reyoung，andmaybeyourwomanhate’llwearoff。
Ifitdoes，outyougo。Ican’thaveanysparkin’orlovemakin’
aroundthesepremises。"
Theassistantsnortedcontemptuously。
"Ifeveryoucatchmebeingevencoldlyfamiliarwithafemaleofanyage，"hedeclared，"Iherebyrequestthatyouhitme，politely，butfirmly，withthataxe，"pointingtothekindlinghatchetleaningagainstthedoorpost。
Sethchuckled。"Goodstuff！"heexclaimed。"And，formypart，ifeveryoucatchmegettin’confectionerywithawoman，I……well，don’tstoptoprayoverme；justdrownme，that’sallIask。It’sabargain。Shake！"
Sotheyshook，withgreatsolemnity。
CHAPTERVIII
NEIGHBORSANDWASPS
Andnowaffairsatthelightssettleddownintoadailyroutineinwhichthelightkeeperandhishelpereachplayedhisappointedpart。
Allmysteriesnowbeingsolved，andthetrustbetweenthemmutualandwithoutreserve，theynolongerwereontheirguardineachother’spresence，buttalkedfreelyonallsortsoftopics，andexpressedtheirmutualdislikeofwomanwithfrequencyandpoint。
Noregularassistantwasappointedorseemedlikelytobe，forthesummer，atleast。Sethandhisfriend，thesuperintendent，heldanotherlengthyconversationoverthewire，and，whileBrown’suncertainstatusremainedthesame，therewasatacitunderstandingthat，bythefirstofSeptember，iftheyoungmanwassufficiently"brokenin，"thepositionvacatedbyEzraPayneshouldbehis——ifhestillwantedit。
"Youmaychangeyourmindbythattime，"observedSeth。"Thisain’tnoplaceforachapwithyourtrainin’，andIknowit。Itdoeswellenoughforanoldderelictlikeme，withnobodytocareahangwhetherhelivesordies，butyou’redifferent。Andevenformethelonesomenessofitdrivesme’mostcrazysometimes。I’venoticedyou’vebeenhavin’bluestreaksmoreoftenthanwhenyoufirstcame。
Ical’latethatbyfallyou’llbeheadin’somewhereselse，Mr。’JohnBrown，’"withsignificantemphasisuponthename。
Brownstoutlydeniedbeing"bluer"thanusual，andhissuperiordidnotpressthepoint。SethbusiedhimselfinhissparetimewiththeworkontheDaisyM。andwithhisoccasionaltripsbehindJoshuatothevillage。Brownmighthavemadesomeofthesetrips，buthedidnotcareto。Solitudeandseclusionhestilldesired，andthereweremoreofthesethananythingelseattheTwin-Lights。
Thelightkeeperexperimentedwithnomoredogs，buthehadevidentlynotforgottenthelifesavingman’swarningconcerningpossiblethieves，forhepurchasedabigspring-lockinEastboroandattachedittothedooroftheboathouseonthelittlewharf。Thelockwas，atfirst，agooddealmoreofanuisancethananadvantage，forthekeywasalwaysbeingforgottenormislaid，and，ononeoccasion，thedoorblewshutwithAtkinsinsidethebuilding，andhepoundedandshriekedfortenminutesbeforehishelperheardhimanddescendedtotherescue。
Junecrawledby，andJulycame。Crawledistheproperword，forJohnBrownhadneverknowndayssolongorweekssounendingasthoseofthatearlysummer。Themonotonywasalmostneverbroken，andhebegantofinditdeadly。Heinventednewdutiesaboutthelightsandaddedswimmingandwalksupanddownthebeachtohislimitedlistofrecreations。
Theswimmingheespeciallyenjoyed。Thecovemadeafinebathingplace，andtheboathousewashisdressingroom，thoughthefragranceoftheancientfishnetsstoredwithinitwasnotthatofattarofroses。AcheapbathingsuitwasoneoftheluxuriesAtkinshadboughtforhim，byrequest，inEastboro。Sethboughtthesuitunderprotest，forhescoffedopenlyathishelper’sdailybath。
"Ishouldthink，"thelightkeeperdeclaredoverandoveragain，"thatyou’dhadsaltwatersoakenoughtolastyouforonespell；afellerthatcomeasnighdrownin’asyoudone！"
Sethdidnotcareforswimming；thewashtubeverySaturdaynightfurnishedhimwithbathssufficient。
Hewasparticulartowarnhishelperagainstthetideintheinlet：
"Thecove’sallright，"hesaid，"butyouwanttolookoutandnottrytoswiminthecrickwhereit’snarrow，orinthatdeepholebytheendofthewharf，wherethelobstercar’smoored。Whenthetide’scomin’inorit’sdeadhighwater，thecurrent’sstrongthere。Ontheebbit’llsnakeyououtintothebreakerssureasI’msettin’heretellin’you。Thecove’sallrightandgoodandsafe；
butkeepawayfromthenarrerpartofthecrick。"
Swimmingwasgoodfun，andwalking，onpleasantdays，wasanaidinshakingoffdepression；but，inspiteofhisdenialsandhisattemptsatappearingcontented，thesubstituteassistantrealizedthathewasfarfromthathappycondition。Hedidnotwanttomeetpeople，leastofallpeopleofhisownstationinlife——hisformerstation。Atkinswasafinechap，inhisway；but……Brownwaslonely……andwhenoneislonely，onethinksofwhatmighthavebeen，and，perhaps，regrets。Regrets，unavailingregrets，arethepoorestcompanionspossible。
Thelightkeeper，too，seemedlonely，which，consideringhisyearsofexperienceinhispresentsituation，wasodd。Heexplainedhislonelinessoneeveningbyobservingthathecal’latedhemissedthepaintingchaps。
"Whatpaintingchaps？"askedBrown。
"Oh，themtwoyoungfellersthatalwaysusedtocometothecottage——
whatyoucallthebungalow——acrossthecovethere，theonesItoldyouabout。Theywasrealfriendly，sociableyoungchaps，andIkindoflikedtohave’emrunnin’inandout。SeemsqueertohaveitJuly，andtheynotheretohailmeandcomeovertoborrowstuff。
Andtheywasforeversettin’aroundunderwhitesunshades，sloppin’
paintontopaper。Imostwishtheyhadn’tgonetoEurope。I
cal’lateyou’dhaveliked’em，too。"
"Perhaps，"saidthehelper，doubtfully。
"Oh，youwould；noperhapsaboutit。Itdon’tseemrighttoseethebungalowallshutteredupanddesertedthistimeofyear。You’dhavelikedtomeetthemyoungpainters；theywasyourkind。"
"Yes，Iknow。Perhapsthat’swhyIshouldn’tliketomeetthem。"
"Hey？……Oh，yes，yes；Isee。Ineverthoughtofthat。But’tain’tlikelythey’dknowyou；theyhailedfromBoston，notNewYork。"
"HowdidyouknowIcamefromNewYork？Ididn’ttellyouthat。"
"No，youdidn’t，that’safact。But，yousaidyouleftthecitywhereyoulivedandcametoBoston，soIsortofguessedNewYork。
Butthat’sallright；Idon’tknowandIdon’tcare。Namesandplacesyouandmemightjustaswellnottell，eventoeachother。
Ifwedon’ttellthem，wecananswer’don’tknow’toquestionsandtellthetruth；hey？"
Onemorningaboutaweeklater，Brown，hisdishwashingandsweepingdone，wasbusyinthelight-roomatthetopoftherighthandtower，polishingthebrassofthelantern。Thecurtainsweredrawnonthelandwardside，andthosetowardtheseaopen。Seth，havingfinishedhisnightwatchingandbreakfast，wasaudiblyasleepinthehouse。
Brownrubbedandpolishedleisurely，histhoughtsfaraway，andafrownonhisface。Forthethousandthtimethatweekhedecidedthathewasaloaferandavagabond，andthatitwouldhavebeenmuchbetterforhimself，andcreationgenerally，ifhehadneverrisenaftertheplungeoverthesteamer’srail。
Hepulledtheclothcoverovertheglitteringlanternanddescendedtheironstairtothegroundfloor。Whenheemergedintotheopenair，heheardasoundwhichmadehimstartandlisten。Thesoundwasthedistantrattleofwheelsfromthedirectionofthevillage。
Wasanother"picnic"coming？Hewalkedbrisklytothecornerofthehouseandpeereddownthewindingroad。Acarriagewasinsightcertainly，butitwasgoing，notcoming。Hewatcheditmovefurtherawayeachmoment。Someone——notthegroceroratradesman——wasdrivingtothevillage。Butwherehadhebeen，andwhowashe？NotSeth，forSethwasasleep——hecouldhearhim。
Thedriverofthecarriage，whoeverhewas，hadnotvisitedthelights。And，asAtkinshadsaid，therewasnowhereelsetogoonthatroad。Brown，puzzled，lookedabouthim，atthesea，thelights，thehouse，thecreek，thecove，thebluffontheothersideofthecove，thebungalow——ah！thebungalow！
Forthedoorofthebungalowwasopen，andoneortwooftheshuttersweredown。Thecarriagehadbroughtsomepersonorpersonstothebungalowandleftthemthere。Instantly，ofcourse，BrownthoughtoftheartistsfromBoston。ProbablytheyhadchangedtheirmindsanddecidedtosummeratEastboroafterall。Hisfrowndeepened。
Then，fromacrossthecove，fromthebungalow，cameashrillscream，afemininescream。Theassistantstarted，scarcelybelievinghisears。Beforehecouldgatherhiswits，astoutwoman，withacheckedaproninherhand，rushedoutofthebungalowdoor，lookedabout，sawhim，andwavedtheapronlikeaflag。
"Hi！"shescreamed。"Hi，you！Mr。Lighthouseman！comequick！dopleasecomeherequickandhelpus！"
Therewasbutonethingtodo，andBrowndiditinstinctively。Heracedthroughthebeachgrass，downthehill，inobediencetothecall。Asheran，hewonderedwhoonearththestoutwomancouldbe。
Sethhadsaidthattheartistsdidtheirownhousekeeping。
"Hurryup！"shriekedthestoutwoman，dancinganelephantinefandangoinfrontofthebungalow。"ComeON！"
Torunaroundtheshorelineofthecovewouldhavetakenagooddealoftime。However，hadthetidebeenatfloodtherewouldhavebeennootherway——exceptingbyboat——toreachthecottage。Butthetidewasout，andthenarrowestportionofthecreek，thestreamconnectingthecovewiththeocean，wasbutkneedeep。Throughthewatersplashedthesubstituteassistantandclamberedupthebankbeyond。
"Quick！"screamedthewoman。"They’lleatusalive！"
"Who？What？"pantedBrown。
"Wasps！They’reinthere！Theroom’sfullof’em。Ifthere’sonethingonearthI’mscartof，it’s……Don’tstoptotalk！GoIN！"
Sheindicatedthedoorofaroomadjoiningthelivingroomofthelittlecottage。Frombehindthedoorcamesoundsofupsettingfurnitureandsharpslaps。Evidentlytheartistswerehavingalivelytime。Buttheymustbecuriouschapstobeafraidofwasps。
Brownopenedthedoorandentered，partlyofhisownvolition，partlybecausehewaspushedbythestoutwoman。Thenhegaspedinastonishment。
Thewaspswerethere，dozensofthem，andtheyhadbuiltanestintheuppercorneroftheroom。Buttheywerenottheastonishingpartofthepicture。Ayoungwomanwasthere，also；ayoungwomanwithdarkhairandeyes，thesleevesofawhiteshirtwaistrolledaboveherelbows，andawettowelinherrighthand。Shewasskippinglightlyabouttheroom，slappingfranticallyatthehumminginsects。
"Mrs。Bascom，"shepanted，"don’tstandtherescreaming。Getanothertoweland——"
ThensheturnedandsawBrown。Foraninstantshe，too，seemedastonished。Butonlyforaninstant。
"Oh，I’msogladyoucame！"sheexclaimed。"Here！takethis！youmusthitquickandHARD。"
"This"wasthetowel。Theassistanttookitmechanically。Theyoungladydidnotwaittogivefurtherorders。Sherushedoutoftheroomandshutthedoor。Brownwasalonewiththewasps，andtheywerelivelycompany。When，atlast，thebattlewasover，thelastwaspwasdead，thenestwasacrumpledgrayheapoverinthecorner，andtheassistant’sbrowwasornamentedwithfourredandsmartingpunctures，whichpromisedtoshortlybecomepicturesqueandpainfullumps。Rubbingtheseabsentlywithonehand，andbearingthetowelintheother，heopenedthedoorandsteppedoutintotheadjoiningroom。
Thetwowomenwereawaitinghim。Hefoundthemstandingdirectlyinfrontofhimasheemerged。
"Haveyou——haveyoukilledthem？"beggedtheyoungerofthepair。
"Betheyalldead？"demandedtheother。
Brownnoddedsolemnly。"Iguessso，"hesaid。"Theyseemtobe。"
"Oh，I’msoglad！"criedthedarkhairedgirl。"I’m——we——aresomuchobligedtoyou。"
"Ifthere’sanycrittersonearth，"declaredthestoutwoman，"thatIcan’tstand，it’swaspsandhornetsandsuch。Mice，Idon’tmind——"
"Ido，"interruptedhercompanionwithemphasis。
"ButwhenIwalkedintothatroomandseenthatnestinthecornerI
wasprettynighknockedover——and，"sheadded，"ittakesconsider’bletodothattoME。"
Theassistantlookedather。"Yes，"hesaid，absently，"Ishouldthinkitmight。Thatis，Imean——I——Ibegyourpardon。"
Hepausedandwipedhisforeheadwiththetowel。Theyoungladyburstintoapealoflaughter，inwhichthestoutwomanjoined。ThelaughwassoinfectiousthatevenBrownwasobligedtosmile。
"Iapologize，"hestammered。"Ididn’tmeanthatexactlyasitsounded。I’mnotresponsiblementally——yet——Iguess。"
"Idon’twonder。"Itwasthestoutwomanwhoanswered。Thegirlhadturnedawayandwaslookingoutthewindow；hershouldersshook。