Affairs for the Keiths passed through another week of what might be called the transition stage. It took them that long to settle down in their new house and into some semblance1 of a routine--two days to the actual installation, and the evenings full of small matters to arrange. Nan was busy all day long playing with her new toy. The housekeeping was fascinating, and Wing Sam a mixture of delight and despair. Like most women who have led the sheltered life, she had not realized as yet that the customs of her own fraction of one per cent, were not immutable2. Therefore, she tried to model the household exactly in the pattern of those to which she had been accustomed. Wing Sam blandly3 refused to be moulded.
Thus Nan spent all one morning drilling him in the proper etiquette4 of answering doors. Mindful of John McGlynn's advice, she did this by precept5, ringing her own door bell, presenting a card as though calling on herself. Wing Sam's placid6 exterior7 changed not. A half hour later the door bell rang, but no Wing Sam appeared to answer it. It rang again, and again, until Nan herself opened the door. On the doorstep stood Wing Sam himself.
"I foolee you, too," he announced with huge delight.
Painstakingly8 Nan conveyed to him that this was neither an amusing game nor a practical joke. Later in the day the door bell rang again. Nan, hovering9 near to gauge10 the result of her training, saw Wing Sam plant himself firmly in the opening.
"You got ticket?" he demanded sternly of the deliveryman outside. "You no got ticket, you no get in!"
Which, Nan rather hysterically11 gathered, was what Wing Sam had gained of the calling-card idea. After that, temporarily as she thought, Nan permitted him to go back to his own method, which, had she known it, was the method of every Chinese servant in California. The visitor found his bell answered by a blandly smiling Wing Sam, who cheerfully remarked: "Hullo!" It was friendly, and it didn't matter; but at that stage of her development Nan was more or less scandalized.
Nan's sense of humour always came to her assistance by evening, and she had many amusing anecdotes13 to tell Keith, over which both of them laughed merrily. Gringo added somewhat to the complications in life. He was a fat, roly-poly, soft-boned, ingratiating puppy, with a tail that waved energetically but uncontrolledly. Gringo at times was very naughty, and very much in the way. But when exasperation14 turned to vengeance15 he had a way of keeling over on his back, spreading his hind16 legs apart in a manner to expose his stomach freely to brutal17 assault, and casting one calm china- blue eye upward.
"Can there anywhere exist any one so hard-hearted as to injure a poor, absolutely defenceless dog?" he inquired, with full confidence in the answer.
The iniquities18 of Gringo and the eccentricities19 of Wing Sam Nan detailed20 at length, and also her experiences with the natives. She as yet looked on every one as natives. Only later could she expand to the point of including them in her cosmos21 of people. Nan was transplanted, and her roots had not yet struck down into the soil. In her shopping peregrinations she was making casual acquaintance, and she had not yet become accustomed to it.
"I bought some darling little casseroles at Phelan's to-day," she said. "The whole Phelan family waited on me. Where do you suppose the women get their perfectly22 awful clothes? Mrs. Phelan offered to take me to her milliner!" or "You know Wilkins--the furniture man where we got the big armchair? I was in there to-day, and he apologized because his wife hadn't called!"
They went to bed early, because they were both very tired.
Keith also had generally passed an interesting day. Immediately after breakfast he went to his office, and conscientiously24 sat a while. Sometimes he wrote letters or cast up accounts; but there could not be much of this to do. About ten or eleven o'clock his impatient temperament25 had had enough of this, so he drifted over to the Monumental engine house. After considerable thought he had decided26 to join this company. It represented about the class of men with whom he wanted to affiliate27 himself--the influential28 men of the lawyer, Southern-politician, large business men type. There were many of these volunteer organizations. Their main purpose was to fight fire; but they subserved other objects as well--political, social, and financial. David Broderick, for example, already hated and feared, partly owned and financed a company of ward-heelers who were introducing and establishing the Tammany type of spoils politics. Casey, later in serious trouble, practically manipulated another.
Among the Monumentals, Keith delighted especially in Bert Taylor. Bert Taylor likewise delighted in Keith. The little chubby30 man's enthusiasm for the company, while recognized as most valuable to the company's welfare, had ended by boring most of the company's members. But Keith was a new listener and avid29 for information. He had had no notion of how complicated the whole matter could be. Bert Taylor dissertated sometimes on one phase of the subject, sometimes on another.
"It's drills we need, and the fellows won't drill enough!" was Bert Taylor's constant complaint. "What do they know about hose? They run it out any way it comes; and roll it up anyhow, instead of doing a proper job."
"How should you do it?" asked Keith.
"It ought to be laid right--so there's no bends or sharp angles in it; it should never be laid over heaps of stones, or any kind of uneven31 surface-- it all increases the water resistance. If there are any bends or curves they should be regular and even. The hose ought never to rest against a sharp edge or angle. And when you coil it up you ought to reverse the sides every time, so it will wear even and stretch even. Do they do it? Not unless I stand over them with a club!"
He showed Keith the hose, made of India rubber, a comparatively new thing, for heretofore hose had been made of riveted32 leather. Bert Taylor made him feel the inside of this hose with his forefinger33 to test its superlative smoothness.
"Mighty34 little resistance there!" he cried triumphantly35.
The nozzles, all in racks, he handled with almost reverent36 care.
"These are the boys that cost the money," said Taylor. "If the inside isn't polished like a mirror the water doesn't come smooth. And the least little dent37 makes the stream ragged38 and broken. Nothing looks worse--and it isn't as effective on the fire. It ought to be thrown like a solid rod of water. I can't get the boys to realize that the slightest bruise40, dent, or burr throws the stream in a ragged feathery foam41. The result of that is that a lot of water is dissipated and lost."
Keith, who had taken hold of the nozzle rather negligently42, returned it with the reverent care due crown jewels.
"How long a stream will it throw?" he asked.
"With thirty men on a side she's done a hundred and twelve feet high, and two hundred and eighteen for distance," said Bert with simple pride.
He picked up the nozzle again.
"See here. Here's an invention of my own. Cost money to put it in, too, because every other nozzle on earth is made wrong."
He explained that other nozzles are made so that the thread of the hose screwed into the nozzle; while in his, the thread of the nozzle screwed into the hose.
"If there's a leak or a bad connection," explained Bert, "with the old type, the water is blown back into the fireman's face, and he is blinded. His whole efficiency depends on a close joint43. But with my scheme the leak is blown forward, away from the lineman. It's a perfectly sound scheme, but I can't make them see it."
"Sounds reasonable," observed Keith, examining perfunctorily a device to which later he was to owe his life.
Item by item they went over the details of equipment--the scaling ladders, the jumping sheets, the branch pipes, the suction pipes, the flat roses, standcocks, goose necks, the dogtails, dam boards, shovels44, saws, poleaxes, hooks, and ropes. From a consideration of them the two branched off to the generalities of fire fighting. Keith learned that the combating of a fire, the driving it into a corner, outflanking it, was a fine art.
"I say always, _get in close_," said Taylor. "A fire can be _put_ out as well as just drowned out."
It struck Keith as interesting that in a room a stream should always be directed at the top of a fire, so that the water running down helps extinguish the flames below, whereas in attack at the bottom or centre merely puts out the immediate23 blaze, leaving the rest to spread upward or sideways. Taylor put himself on record against fighting fire from the street.
"Don't want a whole lot of water and row," he maintained. "Get in close quarters and make every drop count."
When Bert's enthusiasm palled46, Keith always found men in the reading-room. The engine house was a sort of clearing house for politics, business schemes, personal affairs, or differences.
Once a day, also, as part of his job in his profession, Keith went to the courthouse. There he sat in the enclosure reserved for lawyers and listened to the proceedings47, his legal mind alert and interested in the technical battles. At no time in the world's history has sheer technicality unleavened by common sense been carried further than in the early California courts. Even in the most law-ridden times elsewhere a certain check has been exercised by public opinion or the presence of business interests. But here was as yet no public opinion; and business interests, their energies fully12 taxed by the necessities of a new country, were willing to pay heavily to be let alone. Consequently, lawyers were permitted to play out their fascinating game to their hearts' content, and totally without reference to expedience48 or to the justice of the case. The battles were indeed intensely technical and shadowy. Points within points were fought bitterly. Often for days the real case at issue was forgotten.
Only one of the more obvious instances of technical triumph need be cited. One man killed another, on a public street, before many witnesses. The indictment49 was, however, thrown out and he released because it stated only that the victim was killed by a pistol, and failed to specify50 that his death was due to the discharge of said pistol. The lawyer who evolved this brilliant idea was greatly admired and warmly congratulated.
The wheels of the law ground very slowly. One of the simplest and most effective expedients52 of defence was delay. A case could be postponed53 and remanded, often until the witnesses were scattered54 or influenced. But there were infinite numbers of legal expedients, all most interesting to a man of Keith's profession. His sense of justice was naturally strong and warm, and an appeal to it outside a courtroom or a law office always got an immediate and commonsense55 response. But inside the law his mind automatically closed, and a "case" could have only legal aspects. Which is true of the majority of lawyers to-day.
On the adjournment56 of court Keith generally drifted over to the El Dorado or the Empire, where he spent an hour or so loafing with some of his numerous acquaintances. He was of the temperament that makes itself quickly popular, the laughing, hearty57 sort, full of badinage58, and genuinely liking59 most men with whom he came in contact. There was always much joking in the air, but back of it was a certain reserve, a certain wariness60, for every second man was a professed61 "fire-eater," given to feeling insulted on the slightest grounds, and flying to the duel62 or the street fight instanter.
This hour was always most pleasant to Keith; nevertheless, he went home about five o'clock in order to enjoy an hour or so of daylight about the place. He performed prodigies63 of digging in the new garden: constructing terraces, flower beds, walks, and the like. While the actual construction work was under way he was greatly interested, but cared nothing for the finished product or the mere45 growing of the flowers.
Gringo received his share of training, at first to his intense disgust. Twice he refused obedience64, and the matter being pressed, resorted to the simple expedient51 of retiring from the scene. Keith dropped everything and pursued. Gringo crawled under things, but was followed even to the dustiest and cob-webbiest farthest corner under the porch; he tried swiftness and dodging65, but was trailed in all his doublings and twistings at top speed; he tried running straight away over the sand hills, and at first left his horrible master behind, but the horrible master possessed66 a horrible persistence67. Finally he shut his eyes and squatted68, expecting instant annihilation, but instead was haled back to the exact scene of his disobedience, and the command repeated. Nan laughed until the tears came, over the large, warm, red-faced man after the small, obstinate69, scared pup, but Keith refused to joke.
"If he finds he can't get away, no matter what happens, I'll never have to do it again," he panted. "But if he wins out, even once, it'll be an awful job."
Gringo tried twice. Then, his faith in his ability to escape completely shattered, he gave up. After that he adored Keith and was always under his feet.
Keith saw nothing of any of the women. Mrs. Sherwood seemed to have dropped from their ken39 when they left the hotel. Once Keith inquired casually70 about Mrs. Morrell.
"She's been over twice to see the place," replied Nan.
"We ought to go over there to call," proffered71 Keith vaguely72; but there the matter rested.
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1
semblance
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| n.外貌，外表 | |
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immutable
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| adj.不可改变的，永恒的 | |
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blandly
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| adv.温和地，殷勤地 | |
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etiquette
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| n.礼仪，礼节；规矩 | |
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precept
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| n.戒律；格言 | |
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placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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exterior
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| adj.外部的，外在的；表面的 | |
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painstakingly
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| adv. 费力地 苦心地 | |
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hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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gauge
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| v.精确计量；估计；n.标准度量；计量器 | |
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hysterically
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| ad. 歇斯底里地 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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anecdotes
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| n.掌故，趣闻，轶事( anecdote的名词复数 ) | |
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exasperation
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| n.愤慨 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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iniquities
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| n.邪恶( iniquity的名词复数 )；极不公正 | |
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eccentricities
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| n.古怪行为( eccentricity的名词复数 )；反常；怪癖 | |
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detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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cosmos
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| n.宇宙；秩序，和谐 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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conscientiously
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| adv.凭良心地；认真地，负责尽职地；老老实实 | |
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temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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affiliate
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| vt.使隶(附)属于；n.附属机构，分公司 | |
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influential
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| adj.有影响的，有权势的 | |
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avid
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| adj.热心的；贪婪的；渴望的；劲头十足的 | |
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chubby
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| adj.丰满的，圆胖的 | |
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uneven
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| adj.不平坦的，不规则的，不均匀的 | |
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32
riveted
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| 铆接( rivet的过去式和过去分词 )； 把…固定住； 吸引； 引起某人的注意 | |
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33
forefinger
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| n.食指 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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reverent
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| adj.恭敬的，虔诚的 | |
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dent
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| n.凹痕，凹坑；初步进展 | |
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ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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ken
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| n.视野，知识领域 | |
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bruise
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| n.青肿，挫伤；伤痕；vt.打青；挫伤 | |
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foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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negligently
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joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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44
shovels
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| n.铲子( shovel的名词复数 )；锹；推土机、挖土机等的)铲；铲形部份v.铲子( shovel的第三人称单数 )；锹；推土机、挖土机等的)铲；铲形部份 | |
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45
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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palled
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| v.（因过多或过久而）生厌，感到乏味，厌烦( pall的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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expedience
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| n.方便，私利，权宜 | |
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indictment
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| n.起诉；诉状 | |
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50
specify
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| vt.指定，详细说明 | |
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51
expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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52
expedients
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| n.应急有效的，权宜之计的( expedient的名词复数 ) | |
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53
postponed
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| vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发） | |
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54
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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55
commonsense
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| adj.有常识的；明白事理的；注重实际的 | |
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56
adjournment
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| 休会； 延期； 休会期； 休庭期 | |
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57
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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badinage
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| n.开玩笑，打趣 | |
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59
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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60
wariness
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| n. 注意,小心 | |
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61
professed
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| 公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的 | |
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62
duel
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| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
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63
prodigies
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| n.奇才，天才（尤指神童）( prodigy的名词复数 ) | |
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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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65
dodging
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| n.避开，闪过，音调改变v.闪躲( dodge的现在分词 )；回避 | |
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66
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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persistence
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| n.坚持，持续，存留 | |
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68
squatted
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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69
obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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casually
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| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
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71
proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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