the kentons-第10章

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was　growing　to　dislike　him；　and　trying　to　avoid　him；　and　now　he　presented
himself　quite　humbly　before　his　wife；　as　if　he　had　done　wrong　in　coming。　
He　began　with　a　sort　of　apology　for　interrupting；　but　his　wife　said　it
was　all　right；　and　she　added；　〃We　were　not　talking　about　anything　in
particular。〃　　She　was　silent；　and　then　she　added　again：　〃Sometimes　I
think　Ellen　hasn't　very　fine　perceptions；　after　all。　　She　doesn't　seem　to
feel　about　people　as　I　supposed　she　would。〃

〃You　mean　that　she　doesn't　feel　as　you　would　suppose　about　those　people？〃

Mrs。　Kenton　answered；　obliquely。　　〃She　thinks　it's　a　beautiful　thing　in
him　to　be　so　devoted　to　his　mother。〃

〃Humph！　　And　what　does　she　think　of　his　mother？〃

〃She　thinks　she　has　very　pretty　hair。〃

Mrs。　Kenton　looked　gravely　down　at　the　work　she　had　in　her　hands；　and
Kenton　did　not　know　what　to　make　of　it　all。　　He　decided　that　his　wife
must　feel；　as　he　did；　a　doubt　of　the　child's　sincerity；　with　sense　of　her
evasiveness　more　tolerant　than　his　own。　　Yet　he　knew　that　if　it　came　to　a
question　of　forcing　Ellen　to　do　what　was　best　for　her；　or　forbidding　her
to　do　what　was　worst；　his　wife　would　have　all　the　strength　for　the　work；
and　he　none。　　He　asked　her；　hopelessly　enough；　〃Do　you　think　she　still
cares　for　him？〃

〃I　think　she　wishes　to　give　him　another　trial；　I　hope　she　will。〃　　Kenton
was　daunted；　and　he　showed　it。　　〃She　has　got　to　convince　herself；　and　we
have　got　to　let　her。　　She　believes；　of　course；　that　he's　here　on　her
account；　and　that　flatters　her。　　Why　should　she　be　so　different　from
other　girls？〃　　Mrs。　Kenton　demanded　of　the　angry　protest　in　her　husband's
eye。

His　spirit　fell；　and　he　said；　〃I　only　wish　she　were　more　like　them。〃

〃Well；　then；　she　is　just　as　headstrong　and　as　silly；　when　it　comes　to　a
thing　like　this。　　Our　only　hope　is　to　let　her　have　her　own　way。〃

〃Do　you　suppose　he　cares　for　her；　after　all？〃

Mrs。　Kenton　was　silent；　as　if　in　exhaustive　self…question。　　Then　she
answered：　〃No；　I　don't　in　that　way。　　But　he　believes　he　can　get　her。〃

〃Then；　Sarah；　I　think　we　have　a　duty　to　the　poor　child。　　You　must　tell
her　what　you　have　told　me。〃

Mrs。　Kenton　smiled　rather　bitterly；　in　recognition　of　the　fact　that　the
performance　of　their　common　duty　must　fall　wholly　to　her。　　But　she　merely
said：　〃There　is　no　need　of　my　telling　her。　　She　knows　it　already。〃

〃And　she　would　take　him　in　spite　of　knowing　that　he　didn't　really　care
for　her？〃

〃I　don't　say　that。　　She　wouldn't　own　it　to　herself。〃

〃And　what　are　you　going　to　do？〃

〃Nothing。　　We　must　let　things　take　their　course。〃

They　had　a　great　deal　more　talk　that　came　to　the　same　end。　　They　played
their　sad　comedy；　he　in　the　part　of　a　father　determined　to　save　his　child
from　herself；　and　she　in　hers　of　resisting　and　withholding　him。　　It　ended
as　it　had　so　often　ended　beforehe　yielded；　with　more　faith　in　her
wisdom　than　she　had　herself。

At　luncheon　the　Bittridges　could　not　join　the　Kentons；　or　be　asked　to　do
so；　because　the　table　held　only　four；　but　they　stopped　on　their　way　to
their　own　table；　the　mother　to　bridle　and　toss　in　affected　reluctance；
while　the　son　bragged　how　he　had　got　the　last　two　tickets　to　be　had　that
night　for　the　theatre　where　he　was　going　to　take　his　mother。　　He　seemed
to　think　that　the　fact　had　a　special　claim　on　the　judge's　interest；　and
she　to　wish　to　find　out　whether　Mrs。　Kenton　approved　of　theatre…going。　
She　said　she　would　not　think　of　going　in　Ballardsville；　but　she　supposed
it　was　more　rulable　in　New　York。

During　the　afternoon　she　called　at　the　Kenton　apartment　to　consult　the
ladies　about　what　she　ought　to　wear。　　She　said　she　had　nothing　but　a
black　'barege'　along；　and　would　that　do　with　the　hat　she　had　on？　　She　had
worn　it　to　let　them　see；　and　now　she　turned　her　face　from　aide　to　side　to
give　them　the　effect　of　the　plumes；　that　fell　like　a　dishevelled　feather…
duster　round　and　over　the　crown。　　Mrs。　Kenton　could　only　say　that　it
would　do；　but　she　believed　that　it　was　the　custom　now　for　ladies　to　take
their　hats　off　in　the　theatre。

Mrs。　Bittridge　gave　a　hoarse　laugh。　　〃Oh；　dear！　　Then　I'll　have　to　fix　my
hair　two　ways？　　I　don't　know　what　Clarence　WILL　say。〃
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
The　mention　of　her　son's　name　opened　the　way　for　her　to　talk　of　him　in
relation　to　herself；　and　the　rest　of　her　stay　passed　in　the　celebration
of　his　filial　virtues；　which　had　been　manifest　from　the　earliest　period。　
She　could　not　remember　that　she　ever　had　to　hit　the　child　a　lick；　she
said；　or　that　he　had　ever　made　her　shed　a　tear。

When　she　went；　Boyne　gloomily　inquired；　〃What　makes　her　hair　so　much
darker　at　the　roots　than　it　is　at　the　points？〃　and　his　mother　snubbed　him
promptly。

〃You　had　no　business　to　be　here；　Boyne。　　I　don't　like　boys　hanging　about
where　ladies　are　talking　together；　and　listening。〃

This　did　not　prevent　Lottie　from　answering；　directly　for　Boyne；　and
indirectly　for　Ellen；　〃It's　because　it's　begun　to　grow　since　the　last
bleach。〃

It　was　easier　to　grapple　with　Boyne　than　with　Lottie；　；and　Mrs。　Kenton
was　willing　to　allow　her　to　leave　the　room　with　her　brother　unrebuked。
She　was　even　willing　to　have　had　the　veil　lifted　from　Mrs。　Bittridge's
hair　with　a　rude　hand；　if　it　world　help　Ellen。

〃I　don't　want　you　to　think；　momma；〃　said　the　girl；　〃that　I　didn't　know
about　her　hair；　or　that　I　don't　see　how　silly　she　is。　　But　it's　all　the
more　to　his　credit　if　he　can　be　so　good　to　her；　and　admire　her。　　Would
yon　like　him　better　if　he　despised　her？〃

Mrs。　Kenton　felt　both　the　defiance　and　the　secret　shame　from　which　it
sprang　in　her　daughter's　words；　and　she　waited　for　a　moment　before　she
answered；　〃I　would　like　to　be　sure　he　didn't！〃

〃If　he　does；　and　if　he　hides　it　from　her；　it's　the　same　as　if　he　didn't；
it's　better。　　But　you　all　wish　to　dislike　him。〃

〃We　don't　wish　to　dislike　him；　Ellen；　goodness　knows。　　But　I　don't　think
he　would　care　much　whether　we　disliked　him　or　not。　　I　am　sure　your　poor
father　and　I　would　be　only　too　glad　to　like　him。〃

〃Lottie　wouldn't；〃　said　Ellen；　with　a　resentment　her　mother　found
pathetic；　it　was　so　feeble　and　aimless。

〃Lottie　doesn't　matter；〃　she　said。　　She　could　not　make　out　how　nearly
Ellen　was　to　sharing　the　common　dislike；　or　how　far　she　would　go　in
fortifying　herself　against　it。　　She　kept　with　difficulty　to　her　negative
frankness；　and　she　let　the　girl　leave　the　room　with　a　fretful　sigh；　as　if
provoked　that　her　mother　would　not　provoke　her　further。　　There　were
moments　when　Mrs。　Kenton　believed　that　Ellen　was　sick　of　her　love；　and
that　she　would　pluck　it　out　of　her　heart　herself　if　she　were　left　alone。　
She　was　then　glad　Bittridge　had　come；　so　that　Ellen　might　compare　with
the　reality　the　counterfeit　presentment　she　had　kept　in　her　fancy；　and
she　believed　that　if　she　could　but　leave　him　to　do　his　worst；　it　would　be
the　best　for　Ellen。

In　the　evening；　directly　after　dinner；　Bittridge　sent　up　his　name　for
Mrs。　Kenton。　　The　judge　had　remained　to　read　his　paper　below；　and　Lottie
and　Boyne　had　gone　to　some　friends　in　another　apartment。　　It　seemed　to
Mrs。　Kenton　a　piece　of　luck　that　she　should　be　able　to　see　him　alone；　and
she　could　not　have　said　that　she　was　unprepared　for　him　to　come　in；
holding　his　theatre…tickets　explanatorily　in　his　hand；　or　surprised　when
he　began：

〃Mrs。　Kenton；　my　mother's　got　a　bad　headache；　and　I've　come　to　ask　a
favor　of　you。　　She　can't　use　her　ticket　for　to…night；　and　I　want　you　to
let　Miss　Ellen　come　with　me。　　Will　you？〃

Bittridge　had　constituted　himself　an　old　friend　of　the　whole　family　from
the　renewal　of　their　acquaintance；　and　Mrs。　Kenton　was　now　made　aware　of
his　being　her　peculiar　favorite；　in　spite　of　the　instant　repulsion　she
felt；　she　was　not　averse　to　what　he　proposed。　　Her　fear　was　that　Ellen
would　be　so；　or　that　she　could　keep　from　influencing　her　to　this　test　of
her　real　feeling　for　Bittridge。　　〃I　will　ask　her；　Mr。　Bittridge；〃　she
said；　with　a　severity　which　was　a　preliminary　of　the　impartiality　she
meant　to　use　with　Ellen。

〃Well；　that's　right；〃　he　answered；　and　while　she　went　to　the　girl's　room
he　remained　examining　the　details　of　the　drawing…room　decorations　in　easy
security；　which　Mrs。　Kenton　justified　on　her　return。

〃Ellen　will　be　ready　to　go　with　you；　Mr。　Bittridge。〃

〃Well；　that's　good；〃　said　the　young　man；　and　while　he　talked　on　she　sat
wondering　at　a　nature　which　all　modesty　and　deference　seemed　left　out　of；
though　he　had　sometimes　given　evidence　of　his　intellectual　appreciation
of　these　things。　　He　talked　to　Mrs。　Kenton　not　only　as　if　they　were　in
every…wise　equal；　but　as　if　they　were　of　the　same　age；　almost　of　the　same
sex。

Ellen　came　in；　cloaked　and　hatted；　with　her　delicate　face　excited　in
prospect　of　the　adventure；　and　her　mother　saw　Bittridge　look　at　her　with
more　tenderness　than　she　had　ever　seen　in　him　before。　　〃I'll　take　good
care　of　her；　Mrs。　Kenton；〃　he　said；　and　for　the　first　time　she　felt
herself　relent　a　little　towards　him。

A　minute　after　they　were　gone　Lottie　bounced　into　the　room；　followed　by
Boyne。

〃Momma！〃　she　shouted；　〃Ellen　isn't　going　to　the　theatre　with　that
fellow？〃

〃Yes；　she　is。〃

〃And　you　let　her；　momma！　　Without　a　chaperon？〃

Boyne's　face　had　mirrored　the　indignation　in　his　sister's；　but　at　this
unprecedented　burst　of　conventionality　he　forgot　their　momentary
alliance。　　〃Well；　you're　a　pretty　one　to　talk　about　chaperons！　　Walking
all　over　Tuskingum　with　fellows　at　night；　and　going　buggy…riding　with
everybody；　and　out　rowing；　and　here　fairly　begging　Jim　Plumpton　to　come
down　to　the　steamer　and　see　you　off　again！〃

〃Shut　up！〃　　Lottie　violently　returned；　〃or　I'll　tell　momma　how　you've
been　behaving　with　Rita　Plumpton　yourself。〃

〃Well；　tell！〃　　Boyne　defied　her。

〃Oh；　it　don't　matter　what　a　brat　of　a　boy　says　or　does；　anyway；〃　said
Lottie。　　〃But　I　think　Ellen　is　disgracing　the　family。　　Everybody　in　the
hotel　is　laughing　at　that　wiggy　old　Mrs。　Bittridge；　with　her　wobbly　eyes；
and　they　can　see　that　he's　just　as　green！　　The　Plumptons　have　been
laughing　so　about　them；　and　I　told　them　that　we　had　nothing　to　do　with
them　at　home；　and　had　fairly　turned　Bittridge　out　of　the　house；　but　he
had　impudence　enough　for　anything；　and　now　to　find　Ellen　going　off　to　the
theatre　with　him　alone！〃

Lottie　began　to　cry　with　vexation　as　she　whipped　out　of　the　room；　and
Boyne；　who　felt　himself　drawn　to　her　side　again；　said；　very　seriously：
〃Well；　it　ain't　the　thing　in　New　York；　you　know；　momma；　and　anybody　can
see　what　a　jay　Bittridge　is。　　I　think　it's　too　bad　to　let　her。〃
　　　　　　　　　　
〃It　isn't　for　you　to　criticise　your　mother；　Boyne；〃　said　Mrs。　Kenton；　but
she　was　more　shaken　than　she　would　allow。　　Her　own　traditions　were　so
simple　that　the　point　of　etiquette　which　her　children　had　urged　had　not
occurred　to　her。　　The　question　whether　Ellen　should　go　with　Bittridge　at
all　being　decided；　she　would；　of　course；　go　in　New　York　as　she　would　go
in　Tuskingum。　　Now　Mrs。　Kenton　perceived　that　she　must　not；　and　she　had
her　share　of　humiliation　in　the　impression　which　his　mother；　as　her
friend；　apparently；　was　making　with　her　children's　acquaintances　in　the
hotel。　　If　they　would　think　everybody　in　Tuskingum　was　like　her；　it　would
certainly　be　very　un