the cruise of the jasper b[1].(杰斯帕·b·之游)-第28章
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belonged to one of the evangelical denominations； the Rev。 Mr。 Calthrop
affected clothing very like the regulation costume of the Episcopalian
clergy； but this clothing was now worn and torn and dusty。 Buttons were
gone here and there； the knees of the unpressed trousers were baggy and
beginning to be ragged； and the sole of one shoe flapped as he walked。
He had a three days' growth of beard and no baggage。
When Cap'n Abernethy had delivered himself and walked away； the
Rev。 Mr。 Calthrop confirmed the story of his own disgrace； speaking in a
low but clear voice； and with a gentle and wistful smile。
〃I am one of the most miserable of sinners； Mr。 Cleggett；〃 he said。 〃I
have proved myself to be that most despicable thing； an unworthy minister。
I was tempted and I fell。〃
The Rev。 Mr。 Calthrop seemed to find the sort of satisfaction in
confessing his sins to the world that the medieval flagellants found in
scoring themselves with whips； they struck their bodies； he drew forth his
soul and beat it publicly。
Cleggett learned that he had set himself as a punishment and a
mortification the task of obtaining his daily bread by the work of his hands。
It was his intention to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem； refusing all
assistance except that which he earned by manual labor。 After such a
term of years as should satisfy all men （and particularly his own spiritual
sense） of the genuineness of his penitence； he would apply to his church
for reinstatement； and ask for an appointment to some difficult mission in
a wild and savage country。 The Rev。 Mr。 Calthrop intimated that if he
chose to accept rehabilitation on less arduous terms； he might obtain it； but
the poignancy of his own sense of failure drove him to extremes。
〃Are you sure；〃 said Cleggett sternly； 〃that you are not making a
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
luxury of this very penitence itself？ Are you sure that it would not be
more acceptable to Heaven if you forgave yourself more easily？〃
〃Alas； yes； I am sure！〃 said Mr。 Calthrop； with a sigh and his calm and
wistful smile。 〃I know myself too well！ I know my own soul。 I am
cursed with a fatal magnetism which women find it impossible to resist。
And I am continually tempted to permit it to exert itself。 This is the cross
that I bear through life。〃
〃You should marry some good woman；〃 said Cleggett。
〃I do not feel that I am worthy；〃 said Mr。 Calthrop meekly。 〃And
think of the pain my wife would experience in seeing me continually
tempted by some woman who believed herself to be my psychic affinity！〃
〃You are a thought too subtle； Mr。 Calthrop；〃 said Cleggett bluntly。
〃But I suppose you cannot help that。 To each of us his destiny。 I am
prepared； until I see some evidence to the contrary； to believe your
repentance to be genuine。 In the meantime； we need a ship's chaplain。
If your conscience permits； you may have the postcombining it； however；
with the vocation of a common sailor before the mast。 I am inclined to
agree with you that manual labor will do you good。 Some time or
another； in her progress around the world； the Jasper B。 will undoubtedly
touch at a coast within walking distance of Jerusalem。 There we will put
you ashore。 Before we sail you can put in your time holystoning the
deck。
〃The deck of the Jasper B。； said Cleggett； looking at it； 〃to all
appearances； has not been holystoned for some years。 You will find in
the forecastle several holystones that have never been used； and may begin
at once。〃
Cleggett； if his tastes had not inclined him towards a more active and
adventurous life； would have made a good bishop； for he knew how to
combine justice and mercy。 And yet few bishops have possessed his
rapidity of decision； when compelled； upon the spur of the moment； to
become the physician of an ailing soul。 He had determined in a flash to
make the man ship's chaplain； that Calthrop might come into close contact
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
with other spiritual organisms and not think too exclusively of his own。
The Rev。 Mr。 Calthrop thanked him with becoming gratitude and
departed to get the new holystones。
By three o'clock that afternoon； with such celerity had the work gone
forward； Mr。 Watkins； the contractor； announced to Cleggett that his task
was finished； except for the removal of the rubbish in the hold。 Cleggett；
going carefully over the vessel； and examining the new parts with a
brochure on the construction and navigation of schooners in his hand；
verified the statement。
〃She is ready to sail；〃 said Cleggett； standing by the new wheel with a
swelling heart； and sweeping the vessel from bowsprit to rudder with a
gradual glance。
It was a look almost paternal in its pride； Cleggett loved the Jasper B。
She was an idea that no one else but Cleggett could have had。
〃Sail？〃 said Mr。 Watkins。
〃Why not？〃 said Cleggett； puzzled at his tone。
〃Oh； nothing；〃 said Mr。 Watkins。 〃It's none of my business。 My
business was to do the work I was hired to do according to specifications。
Further than that； nothing。〃
〃But why did you think I was having the work done？〃
〃Can't say I thought；〃 said Mr。 Watkins。 〃I took the job； and I done it。
Had an idea mebby you were in the movin' picture game。〃
Mr。 Watkins； as he talked； had been regarding Cap'n Abernethy； who in
turn was looking at the mainmast。 There seemed to be something in the
very way Cap'n Abernethy looked at the mainmast which jarred on Mr。
Watkins。 Mr。 Watkins dropped his voice； indicating the Cap'n with a
curved； disparaging thumb； as he asked Cleggett：
〃Is HE going to sail her？〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Ohnothing； nothing at all；〃 said Mr。 Watkins。 〃It's none o' MY
business。〃
Cleggett began to be a little annoyed。 〃Have you；〃 he said with
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
dignity； and fixing a rather stern glance upon Mr。 Watkins； 〃have you any
reason to doubt Cap'n Abernethy's ability as a sailing master？〃
〃No； indeed；〃 said Mr。 Watkins cheerfully； 〃not as a sailing master。
He may be the best in the world； for all I know。 _I_ never seen him sail
anything。 I never heard him play the violin； neither； for that matter； and
he may be a regular jim…dandy on the violin for all I know。〃
〃You are facetious；〃 said Cleggett stiffly。
〃Meaning I ain't paid to be fresh； eh？〃 said Mr。 Watkins。 〃And right
you are； too。 And there's all that junk down in the hold to pass out and
cart away。〃
Cleggett personally supervised this removal； standing on the deck by
the hatchway and scanning ever
