第6章

Snow turned apologetically to her puzzled grandson, who was entirely at a loss to know what the trouble was about.

"You see, Albert," she hesitatingly explained, "Laban--Mr.Keeler--the man who drove you down from the depot--he--he's an awful nice man and your grandfather thinks the world and all of him, but--but every once in a while he-- Oh, dear, I don't know how to say it to you, but--"Evidently Mrs.Ellis knew how to say it, for she broke into the conversation and said it then and there.

"Every once in a while he gets tipsy," she snapped."And I only wish I had my fingers this minute in the hair of the scamp that gave him the liquor."A light broke upon Albert's mind."Oh! Oh, yes!" he exclaimed.

"I thought he acted a little queer, and once I thought I smelt--Oh, that was why he was eating the peppermints!"Mrs.Snow nodded.There was a moment of silence.Suddenly the housekeeper, who had resumed her seat in compliance with Captain Zelotes' order, slammed back her chair and stood up.

"I've hated the smell of peppermint for twenty-two year," she declared, and went out into the kitchen.Albert, looking after her, felt his grandmother's touch upon his sleeve.

"I wouldn't say any more about it before her," she whispered.

"She's awful sensitive."

Why in the world the housekeeper should be particularly sensitive because the man who had driven him from the station ate peppermint was quite beyond the boy's comprehension.Nor could he thoroughly understand why the suspicion of Mr.Keeler's slight inebriety should cause such a sensation in the Snow household.He was inclined to think the tipsiness rather funny.Of course alcohol was lectured against often enough at school and on one occasion a member of the senior class--a twenty-year-old "hold-over" who should have graduated the fall before--had been expelled for having beer in his room; but during his long summer vacations, spent precariously at hotels or in short visits to his father's friends, young Speranza had learned to be tolerant.Tolerance was a necessary virtue in the circle surrounding Speranza Senior, in his later years.The popping of corks at all hours of the night and bottles full, half full or empty, were sounds and sights to which Albert had been well accustomed.When one has more than once seen his own father overcome by conviviality and the affair treated as a huge joke, one is not inclined to be too censorious when others slip.What if the queer old Keeler guy was tight? Was that anything to raise such a row about?

Plainly, he decided, this was a strange place, this household of his grandparents.His premonition that they might be "Rubes"seemed likely to have been well founded.What would his father--his great, world-famous father--have thought of them? "Bah! these Yankee bourgeoisie!" He could almost hear him say it.Miguel Carlos Speranza detested--in private--the Yankee bourgeoisie.He took their money and he married one of their daughters, but he detested them.During his last years, when the money had not flowed his way as copiously, the detest grew.

"You won't say anything about Laban before Mrs.Ellis, will you, Albert?" persisted Mrs.Snow."She's dreadful sensitive.I'll explain by and by."He promised, repressing a condescending smile.

Both the housekeeper and Captain Snow returned in a few minutes.

The latter reported that the mare was safe and sound in her stall.

"The harness was mostly on the floor, but Jess was all right, thank the Lord," observed the captain.

"Jess is our horse's name, Albert," explained Mrs.Snow."That is, her name's Jessamine, but Zelotes can't ever seem to say the whole of any name.When we first bought Jessamine I named her Magnolia, but he called her 'Mag' all the time and I COULDN'T stand that.

Have some more preserves, Albert, do."

All through the meal Albert was uneasily conscious that his grandfather was looking at him from under the shaggy brows, measuring him, estimating him, reading him through and through.He resented the scrutiny and the twinkle of sardonic humor which, it seemed to him, accompanied it.His way of handling his knife and fork, his clothes, his tie, his manner of eating and drinking and speaking, all these Captain Zelotes seemed to note and appraise.

But whatever the results of his scrutiny and appraisal might be he kept them entirely to himself.When he addressed his grandson directly, which was not often, his remarks were trivial commonplaces and, although pleasant enough, were terse and to the point.

Several times Mrs.Snow would have questioned Albert concerning the life at school, but each time her husband interfered.

"Not now, not now, Mother," he said."The boy ain't goin' to run away to-night.He'll be here to-morrow and a good many to-morrows, if"--and here again Albert seemed to detect the slight sarcasm and the twinkle--"if we old-fashioned 'down easters' ain't too common and every-day for a high-toned young chap like him to put up with.