登陆注册
5392600000014

第14章

I sat up on the couch.Mr.Colton knocked the ashes from his cigar, waited an instant, and then repeated his question.

"Did you get my letter?" he asked.

"Yes," I said.

"Oh, you did.I was afraid that man of mine might have forgotten to mail it.""No, I got it.Won't you--er--won't you sit down?" He pulled the armchair toward him and sat down.I noticed that he had a habit of doing things quickly.His sentences were short and to the point and he spoke and acted like one accustomed to having his own way.

He crossed his knees and looked about the little building.

"It is a pleasant day," I observed, for the sake of saying something.He did not seem to hear me, or, if he did, he was not interested in the weather.For my part I found the situation embarrassing.I knew what his next question would be, and I did not know how to answer.Sure enough, he asked it.

"I wrote you to come over to my place this forenoon," he said.

"You didn't come."

"No.I--"

"Why not?"

Here was the issue joined.Here, if ever, was the opportunity to assert my independence a la Jed Dean and Alvin Baker.But to assert it now, after he had done the unexpected, after the mountain had come to Mahomet, seemed caddish and ridiculous.So Itemporized, weakly.

"I didn't read your letter until about noon," I said.

"I see.Well, I waited until two o'clock and then I decided to hunt you up.I called at your house.The woman there said you were down here.Your mother?""No." My answer was prompt and sharp enough this time.It was natural, perhaps, that he should presume Dorinda to be my mother, but I did not like it.

He paid absolutely no attention to the tone of my reply or its curtness.He did not refer to Dorinda again.She might have been my wife or my great-aunt for all he cared.

"This your workshop?" he asked, abruptly.Then, nodding toward the dismembered engine, "What are you? a boat builder?""No, not exactly."

"What's the price of a boat like that?" indicating the Comfort with a kick in her direction.

"About two hundred and fifty dollars, I believe," I answered.

"You believe! Don't you know?"

"No.I bought that boat second-hand."

He did not refer to the boat again; apparently forgot it altogether.

His next move was to rise and turn toward the door.I watched him, wondering what was going to happen next.He had a habit of jumping from one subject to another which was bewildering.

"What's that fellow doing off there?" he asked, suddenly.

I looked where he was pointing.

"That is Zeb Kendrick," I answered."He's raking for quahaugs.""Raking for what hogs?"

"Quahaugs.What you New Yorkers call clams.""Oh! Sell 'em, does he?"

"Yes."

"Tell him to call at my house next time you see him.And for heaven's sake tell him to come to the servants' door.Don't you people down here have any servants' doors to your houses? There have been no less than fifty peddlers on my porch since yesterday and my butler will die of apoplexy if it keeps on.He's a good one, for a wonder, and I don't want to lose him."I made no reply to this observation and he did not seem to expect any.He watched Zeb rake for a moment and then he turned back to me.

"Can you come over to my house now?" he asked.

I was not expecting this and again I did not have an answer ready.

"Can you?" he went on."I've got a business deal to make with you and I'd rather make it there.I've got a lot of carpenters and painters at work and they ask me ten questions a minute.They are unnecessary questions but if I don't answer them the fellows are sure to make some fool mistake or other.They need a governess.

If you'll come over with me I'll be in touch with them and you and I can talk just as well.Can come, can't you?"I did not know what to say.I wanted to say no, that if he had any business with me it could be discussed in that boathouse.I did not like his manner, yet I had a feeling that it was his usual one and that he had not meant to be rude.And I could think of no good reason for not going with him.

"You can come, can't you?" he repeated.

"I suppose I can.But--"

"Of course if you're too busy to leave--"I remembered the position he had found me in and I rather think Ihad turned red.He did not smile, but there was a sort of grim twinkle in his eyes.

"I'll come," I said.

"Much obliged.I won't keep you long.Come on."He led the way and I followed, rebellious, and angry, not so much with him as with myself.I wished now that I had gone over to the Colton place when I first received the summons to court, instead of making proclamations of defiance to mother and Lute Rogers.This seemed such a complete backdown.As we passed the house I saw Lute peering from the barn.I devoutly hoped he might not see me, but he did.His mouth opened and he stared.Then, catching my eye, he winked triumphantly.I wanted to punch his head.

The King of New York walked briskly on in silence until we were just at the edge of the grove by the Shore Lane.Then he stopped and turned to me.

"You own all this land, don't you?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Humph! Get a good view from here."

I admitted that the view was good.At that particular point it embraced nearly the whole of the bay in front, and a large portion of the village at the side.

He waved his hand toward the cluster of houses.

"There are eighteen hundred people in this town, they tell me," he said."Permanent residents, I mean.What do they all do?""Do?"

"Yes.How do they get a living? They must get it somehow.In the regular summer resorts they squeeze it out of the city people, Iknow that.But there aren't so many cottagers and boarders here.

What do you all do for a living?"

I told him that most of masculine Denboro fished or farmed or kept store.

"Which do you do?" he asked."You said you weren't a boat-builder.""I'm not doing anything at present," I replied, shortly.

"Out of a job?"

"You might call it that.Is this a part of the business you wished to see me about, Mr.Colton?"I was boiling inwardly and a little of the heat was expressed in my tone.I don't know whether he took the hint or merely lost interest in the subject.At any rate his reply was a brief "No,"and we continued our walk.

同类推荐
  • 德隅斋画品

    德隅斋画品

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 禽星易见

    禽星易见

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 山中寄诗友

    山中寄诗友

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 脏腑门

    脏腑门

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 明伦汇编官常典刑部部

    明伦汇编官常典刑部部

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 典妾为妻

    典妾为妻

    典妻由来已久,顾名思义,典当自己成为他人之妻为其生儿子,生下儿子之后,当期结束。有人问七夕,典妻与将军夫人之间隔着什么?七夕说“隔着人命……”“你只要我爱你,却不要为我生孩子!”“是,因为为你生下孩子的那一天,就是我死的那一天,所以,我只要你爱我,而不要孩子!”--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 暴力牛魔王

    暴力牛魔王

    我是内家形意拳大师,我是穿越者叶寒,我是战斗中的人肉搅拌机,我是铁蹄部落牛头人凯特尔......热血铸就王座,暴力打造基石!我是牛魔王-----叶?凯特尔......
  • 法律常识全知道

    法律常识全知道

    为了帮助读者轻松掌握日常必知必备的法律常识,以法律的思维理智判断世间的是非曲直,从而规范行为、明白生活、理智处世、合法维权,《法律常识全知道》汇总了与我们的生活息息相关的2000个法律常识,通过案例、法律解析、法条链接3个板块,对我们在婚姻家庭、遗产继承、合同纠纷、物业纠纷、房屋买卖租赁、交通事故、医疗事故、工伤赔偿、消费理财、著作发明、刑事犯罪、诉讼程序等方面经常遇到的法律问题进行解答,使我们快速、便捷地找到法律上的解决办法,自己就能轻松解决日常生活和工作中的法律问题,是个人、企业经营、家庭必备的法律工具书。
  • 太虚魔尊

    太虚魔尊

    战遍世界高手的龙神国神秘少年,为解开力量之迷,在机缘巧合下唤醒了洪荒时代的妖尊。而随着血月的出现与七大神器的现世,少年的身世亦渐渐明朗。究竟洪荒太虚五尊孰弱孰强?一场从远古延续至未来的阴谋,必将导致灭世圣战一触即发。
  • 翠渠摘稿

    翠渠摘稿

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 寄卢载

    寄卢载

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 暗恋999次:男神宠上瘾

    暗恋999次:男神宠上瘾

    古人云:男追女,隔座山,女追男,隔层纱。这句话是哪个古人说的,请你出来,我想和你谈谈人生。白诺追许薄言那隔的哪是什么纱呀!那他么的是铁丝网,还是带电的那种!白诺追了许大神七年,再怎么贞洁烈女也该痒了。白诺:“男神,我要放弃你,别再互相伤害了!”许大神:“祸害我一个就够了,别去祸害别人了。“白诺:“…….“白诺:“许先生,我觉得我们有必要好好谈谈!“许大神:“除了谈恋爱,我们没什么好谈的。”白诺:“……“本文1v1,宠文,豪门,青梅竹马!请入坑!
  • 黄檗山断际禅师传心法要

    黄檗山断际禅师传心法要

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 甜梦临境

    甜梦临境

    某女刚回国,便被夺走初吻,那人还是她的青梅竹马。在校园里狂秀恩爱,让身边的朋友都忍不住抱怨他们天天撒狗粮。某男听后,无所谓的说:“你们之前也是这样过的,现在抱怨什么?”女孩轻笑,“你们自己也找一个呗!”四人如遭雷劈,他们也想。男孩挑起女孩的下巴,“曦儿,不用管他们。”说罢,男孩霸道的吻下去
  • 帝姬来袭:相爷,速速接招!

    帝姬来袭:相爷,速速接招!

    (一对一宠文,架空请勿考究)