the american claimant-第24部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

picture〃

〃It's　the　accessories　that　make　it　a　'genre？'〃

〃Yescannon；　or　cat；　or　any　little　thing　like　that；　that　you　heave　into
whoop　up　the　effect。　　We　could　do　a　prodigious　trade　with　the　women　if　we
could　foreground　the　things　they　like；　but　they　don't　give　a　damn　for
artillery。　　Mine's　the　lack；〃　continued　the　captain　with　a　sigh；　〃Andy's
end　of　the　business　is　all　right　I　tell　you　he's　an　artist　from　way
back！〃

〃Yoost　hear　dot　old　man！　　He　always　talk　'poud　me　like　dot；〃　purred　the
pleased　German。

〃Look　at　his　work　yourself！　　Fourteen　portraits　in　a　row。　　And　no　two　of
them　alike。〃

〃Now　that　you　speak　of　it；　it　is　true；　I　hadn't　noticed　it　before。　　It　is
very　remarkable。　　Unique；　I　suppose。〃

〃I　should　say　so。　　That's　the　very　thing　about　Andyhe　discriminates。
Discrimination's　the　thief　of　timeforty…ninth　Psalm；　but　that　ain't　any
matter；　it's　the　honest　thing；　and　it　pays　in　the　end。〃

〃Yes；　he　certainly　is　great　in　that　feature；　one　is　obliged　to　admit　it；
butnow　mind；　I'm　not　really　criticisingdon't　you　think　he　is　just　a
trifle　overstrong　in　technique？〃

The　captain's　face　was　knocked　expressionless　by　this　remark。　　It
remained　quite　vacant　while　he　muttered　to　himself〃　Technique
techniquepolytechniquepyro…technique；　that's　it；　likely…fireworks　too
much　color。〃　　Then　he　spoke　up　with　serenity　and　confidence；　and　said：

〃Well；　yes；　he　does　pile　it　on　pretty　loud；　but　they　all　like　it；　you
knowfact　is；　it's　the　life　of　the　business。　　Take　that　No。　9；　there；
Evans　the　butcher。　　He　drops　into　the　stoodio　as　sober…colored　as
anything　you　ever　see：　now　look　at　him。　　You　can't　tell　him　from　scarlet
fever。　　Well；　it　pleases　that　butcher　to　death。　　I'm　making　a　study　of　a
sausage…wreath　to　hang　on　the　cannon；　and　I　don't　really　reckon　I　can　do
it　right；　but　if　I　can；　we　can　break　the　butcher。〃

〃Unquestionably　your　confederateI　mean　youryour　fellow…craftsman
is　a　great　colorist〃

〃Oh；　danke　schon！〃

〃in　fact　a　quite　extraordinary　colorist；　a　colorist；　I　make　bold　to
say；　without　imitator　here　or　abroadand　with　a　most　bold　and　effective
touch；　a　touch　like　a　battering　ram；　and　a　manner　so　peculiar　and
romantic；　and　extraneous；　and　ad　libitum；　and　heart…searching；　that
thathehe　is　an　impressionist；　I　presume？〃

〃No；〃　said　the　captain　simply；　〃he　is　a　Presbyterian。〃

〃It　accounts　for　it　allallthere's　something　divine　about　his　art；
soulful；　unsatisfactory；　yearning；　dim　hearkening　on　the　void　horizon；
vague…murmuring　to　the　spirit　out　of　ultra…marine　distances　and　far…
sounding　cataclysms　of　uncreated　spaceoh；　if　heif；　hehas　he　ever
tried　distemper？〃

The　captain　answered　up　with　energy：

〃Not　if　he　knows　himself！　　But　his　dog　has；　and〃

〃Oh；　no；　it　vas　not　my　dog。〃

〃Why；　you　said　it　was　your　dog。〃

〃Oh；　no；　gaptain；　I〃

〃It　was　a　white　dog；　wasn't　it；　with　his　tail　docked；　and　one　ear　gone；
and〃

〃Dot's　him；　dot's　him！der　fery　dog。　　Wy；　py　Chorge；　dot　dog　he　would
eat　baint　yoost　de　same　like〃

〃Well；　never　mind　that；　now'vast　heavingI　never　saw　such　a　man。　　You
start　him　on　that　dog　and　he'll　dispute　a　year。　　Blamed　if　I　haven't　seen
him　keep　it　up　a　level　two　hours　and　a　half。〃

〃Why　captain！〃　said　Barrow。　　〃I　guess　that　must　be　hearsay。〃

〃No；　sir；　no　hearsay　about　ithe　disputed　with　me。

〃I　don't　see　how　you　stood　it。〃

〃Oh；　you've　got　toif　you　run　with　Andy。　　But　it's　the　only　fault　he's
got。〃

〃Ain't　you　afraid　of　acquiring　it？〃

〃Oh；　no；〃　said　the　captain；　tranquilly；　〃no　danger　of　that；　I　reckon。〃

The　artists　presently　took　their　leave。　　Then　Barrow　put　his　hands　on
Tracy's　shoulders　and　said：

〃Look　me　in　the　eye；　my　boy。　　Steady；　steady。　　Thereit's　just　as　I
thoughthoped；　anyway；　you're　all　right；　thank　goodness。　　Nothing　the
matter　with　your　mind。　　But　don't　do　that　againeven　for　fun。　　It　isn't
wise。　　They　wouldn't　have　believed　you　if　you'd　been　an　earl's　son。
Why；　they　couldn'tdon't　you　know　that？　　What　ever　possessed　you　to　take
such　a　freak？　　But　never　mind　about　that；　let's　not　talk　of　it。　　It　was　a
mistake；　you　see　that　yourself。〃

〃Yesit　was　a　mistake。〃

〃Well；　just　drop　it　out　of　your；　mind；　it's　no　harm；　we　all　make　them。
Pull　your　courage　together；　and　don't　brood；　and　don't　give　up。　　I'm　at
your　back；　and　we'll　pull　through；　don't　you　be　afraid。〃

When　he　was　gone；　Barrow　walked　the　floor　a　good　while；　uneasy　in　his
mind。　　He　said　to　himself；　〃I'm　troubled　about　him。　　He　never　would　have
made　a　break　like　that　if　he　hadn't　been　a　little　off　his　balance。
But　I　know　what　being　out　of　work　and　no　prospect　ahead　can　do　for　a　man。
First　it　knocks　the　pluck　out　of　him　and　drags　his　pride　in　the　dirt；
worry　does　the　rest；　and　his　mind　gets　shaky。　　I　must　talk　to　these
people。　　Noif　there's　any　humanity　in　themand　there　is；　at　bottom
they'll　be　easier　on　him　if　they　think　his　troubles　have　disturbed　his
reason。　　But　I've　got　to　find　him　some　work；　work's　the　only　medicine　for
his　disease。　Poor　devil！　away　off　here；　and　not　a　friend。〃




CHAPTER　XVII

The　moment　Tracy　was　alone　his　spirits　vanished　away；　and　all　the　misery
of　his　situation　was　manifest　to　him。　　To　be　moneyless　and　an　object　of
the　chairmaker's　charitythis　was　bad　enough；　but　his　folly　in
proclaiming　himself　an　earl's　son　to　that　scoffing　and　unbelieving　crew；
and；　on　top　of　that；　the　humiliating　resultthe　recollection　of　these
things　was　a　sharper　torture　still。　　He　made　up　his　mind　that　he　would
never　play　earl's　son　again　before　a　doubtful　audience。

His　father's　answer　was　a　blow　he　could　not　understand。　　At　times　he
thought　his　father　imagined　he　could　get　work　to　do　in　America　without
any　trouble；　and　was　minded　to　let　him　try　it　and　cure　himself　of　his
radicalism　by　hard；　cold；　disenchanting　experience。　　That　seemed　the　most
plausible　theory；　yet　he　could　not　content　himself　with　it。　　A　theory
that　pleased　him　better　was；　that　this　cablegram　would　be　followed　by
another；　of　a　gentler　sort；　requiring　him　to　come　home。　　Should　he　write
and　strike　his　flag；　and　ask　for　a　ticket　home？　　Oh；　no；　that　he　couldn't
ever　do。　　At　least；　not　yet。　　That　cablegram　would　come；　it　certainly
would。　　So　he　went　from　one　telegraph　office　to　another　every　day　for
nearly　a　week；　and　asked　if　there　was　a　cablegram　for　Howard　Tracy。
No；　there　wasn't　any。　　So　they　answered　him　at　first。　　Later；　they　said
it　before　he　had　a　chance　to　ask。　　Later　still　they　merely　shook　their
heads　impatiently　as　soon　as　he　came　in　sight。　　After　that　he　was　ashamed
to　go　any　more。

He　was　down　in　the　lowest　depths　of　despair；　now；　for　the　harder　Barrow
tried　to　find　work　for　him　the　more　hopeless　the　possibilities　seemed　to
grow。　　At　last　he　said　to　Barrow：

〃Look　here。　　I　want　to　make　a　confession。　　I　have　got　down；　now；　to　where
I　am　not　only　willing　to　acknowledge　to　myself　that　I　am　a　shabby
creature　and　full　of　false　pride；　but　am　willing　to　acknowledge　it　to
you。　　Well；　I've　been　allowing　you　to　wear　yourself　out　hunting　for　work
for　me　when　there's　been　a　chance　open　to　me　all　the　time。　　Forgive　my
pridewhat　was　left　of　it。　　It　is　all　gone；　now；　and　I've　come　to
confess　that　if　those　ghastly　artists　want　another　confederate；　I'm　their
manfor　at　last　I　am　dead　to　shame。〃

〃No？　　Really；　can　you　paint？〃

〃Not　as　badly　as　they。　　No；　I　don't　claim　that；　for　I　am　not　a　genius；
in　fact；　I　am　a　very　indifferent　amateur；　a　slouchy　dabster；　a　mere
artistic　sarcasm；　but　drunk　or　asleep　I　can　beat　those　buccaneers。〃

〃Shake！　　I　want　to　shout！　　Oh；　I　tell　you；　I　am　immensely　delighted　and
relieved。　　Oh；　just　to　workthat　is　life！　　No　matter　what　the　work　is
that's　of　no　consequence。　　Just　work　itself　is　bliss　when　a　man's　been
starving　for　it。　　I've　been　there！　　Come　right　along；　we'll　hunt　the　old
boys　up。　　Don't　you　feel　good？　　I　tell　you　I　do。〃

The　freebooters　were　not　at　home。　　But　their　〃works〃　were；　displayed　in
profusion　all　about　the　little　ratty　studio。　　Cannon　to　the　right　of
them；　cannon　to　the　left　of　them；　cannon　in　frontit　was　Balaclava　come
again。

〃Here's　the　uncontented　hackman；　Tracy。　　Buckle　todeepen　the　sea…green
to　turf；　turn　the　ship　into　a　hearse。　　Let　the　boys　have　a　taste　of　your
quality。〃

The　artists　arrived　just　as　the　last　touch　was　put　on。　　They　stood
transfixed　with　admiration。

〃My　souls　but　she's　a　stunner；　that　hearse！　　The　hackman　will　just　go　all
to　pieces　when　he　sees　that　won't　he　Andy？〃

〃Oh；　it　is　sphlennid；　sphlennid！　　Herr　Tracy；　why　haf　you　not　said　you
vas　a　so　sublime　aartist？　　Lob'　Gott；　of　you　had　lif'd　in　Paris　you　would
be　a　Pree　de　Rome；　dot's　votes　de　matter！〃

The　arrangements　were　soon　made。　　Tracy　was　taken　into　full　and　equal
partnership；　and　he　went　straight　to　work；　with　dash　and　energy；　to
reconstructing　gems　of　art　whose　accessories　had　failed　to　satisfy。
Under　his　hand；　on　that　and　succeeding　days；　artillery　disappeared　and
the　emblems　of　peace　and　commerce　took　its　placecats；　hacks；　sausages；
tugs；　fire　engines；　pianos；　guitars；　rocks；　gardens；　flower…pots；
landscapeswhatever　was　wanted；　he　flung　it　in；　and　the　more　out　of
place　and　absurd　the　required　object　was；　the　more　joy　he　got　out　of
fabricating　it。　　The　pirates　were　delighted；　the