the kentons-第11章

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hotel。　　If　they　would　think　everybody　in　Tuskingum　was　like　her；　it　would
certainly　be　very　unpleasant；　but　she　would　not　quite　own　this　to
herself；　still　less　to　a　fourteen…year…old　boy。　　〃I　think　what　your
father　and　I　decide　to　be　right　will　be　sufficient　excuse　for　you　with
your　friends。〃

〃Does　father　know　it？〃　Boyne　asked；　most　unexpectedly。

Having　no　other　answer　ready；　Mrs。　Kenton　said；　〃You　had　better　go　to
bed；　my　son。〃

〃Well；〃　he　grumbled；　as　he　left　the　room；　〃I　don't　know　where　all　the
pride　of　the　Kentons　is　gone　to。〃

In　his　sense　of　fallen　greatness　he　attempted　to　join　Lottie　in　her　room；
but　she　said；　〃Go　away；　nasty　thing！〃　and　Boyne　was　obliged　to　seek　his
own　room；　where　he　occupied　himself　with　a　contrivance　he　was　inventing
to　enable　you　to　close　your　door　and　turn　off　your　gas　by　a　system　of
pulleys　without　leaving　your　bed；　when　you　were　tired　of　reading。

Mrs。　Kenton　waited　for　her　husband　in　much　less　comfort；　and　when　he
came；　and　asked；　restlessly；　〃Where　are　the　children？〃　　she　first　told
him　that　Lottie　and　Boyne　were　in　their　rooms　before　she　could　bring
herself　to　say　that　Ellen　had　gone　to　the　theatre　with　Bittridge。

It　was　some　relief　to　have　him　take　it　in　the　dull　way　he　did；　and　to　say
nothing　worse　than；　〃Did　you　think　it　was　well　to　have　her！〃

〃You　may　be　sure　I　didn't　want　her　to。　　But　what　would　she　have　said　if　I
had　refused　to　let　her　go？　　I　can　tell　you　it　isn't　an　easy　matter　to
manage　her　in　this　business；　and　it's　very　easy　for　you　to　criticise；
without　taking　the　responsibility。〃

〃I'm　not　criticising；〃　said　Kenton。　　〃I　know　you　have　acted　for　the　best。〃

〃The　children；〃　said　Mrs。　Kenton；　wishing　to　be　justified　further；　〃think
she　ought　to　have　had　a　chaperon。　　I　didn't　think　of　that；　it　isn't　the
custom　at　home；　but　Lottie　was　very　saucy　about　it；　and　I　had　to　send
Boyne　to　bed。　　I　don't　think　our　children　are　very　much　comfort　to　us。〃

〃They　are　good　children；〃　Kenton　said；　saidprovisionally。

〃Yes；　that　is　the　worst　of　it。　　If　they　were　bad；　we　wouldn't　expect　any
comfort　from　them。　　Ellen　is　about　perfect。　　She's　as　near　an　angel　as　a
child　can　be；　but　she　could　hardly　have　given　us　more　anxiety　if　she　had
been　the　worst　girl　in　the　world。〃

〃That's　true；〃　the　father　sadly　assented。

〃She　didn't　really　want　to　go　with　him　to…night；　I'll　say　that　for　her；
and　if　I　had　said　a　single　word　against　it　she　wouldn't　have　gone。　　But
all　at　once；　while　she　sat　there　trying　to　think　how　I　could　excuse　her；
she　began　asking　me　what　she　should　wear。　　There's　something　strange
about　it；　Rufus。　　If　I　believed　in　hypnotism；　I　should　say　she　had　gone
because　he　willed　her　to　go。〃

〃I　guess　she　went　because　she　wanted　to　go　because　she's　in　love　with
him；〃　said　Kenton；　hopelessly。

〃Yes；〃　Mrs。　Kenton　agreed。　　〃I　don't　see　how　she　can　endure　the　sight　of
him。　　He's　handsome　enough；〃　she　added；　with　a　woman's　subjective　logic。
〃And　there's　something　fascinating　about　him。　He's　very　graceful；　and
he's　got　a　good　figure。〃

〃He's　a　hound！〃　　said　Kenton；　exhaustively。

〃Oh　yes；　he's　a　hound；〃　she　sighed；　as　if　there　could　be　no　doubt　on　that
point。　　〃It　don't　seem　right　for　him　to　be　in　the　same　room　with　Ellen。
But　it's　for　her　to　say。　　I　feel　more　and　more　that　we　can't　interfere
without　doing　harm。　　I　suppose　that　if　she　were　not　so　innocent　herself
she　would　realize　what　he　was　better。　　But　I　do　think　he　appreciates　her
innocence。　　He　shows　more　reverence　for　her　than　for　any　one　else。〃

〃How　was　it　his　mother　didn't　go？〃　　asked　Kenton。

〃She　had　a　headache；　he　said。　　But　I　don't　believe　that。　　He　always
intended　to　get　Ellen　to　go。　　And　that's　another　thing　Lottie　was　vexed
about；　she　says　everybody　is　laughing　at　Mrs。　Bittridge；　and　it's
mortifying　to　have　people　take　her　for　a　friend　of　ours。〃

〃If　there　were　nothing　worse　than　that；〃　said　Kenton；　〃　I　guess　we　could
live　through　it。　　Well；　I　don't　know　how　it's　going　to　all　end。〃

They　sat　talking　sadly；　but　finding　a　certain　comfort　in　their　mutual
discouragement；　and　in　their　knowledge　that　they　were　doing　the　best　they
could　for　their　child；　whose　freedom　they　must　not　infringe　so　far　as　to
do　what　was　absolutely　best；　and　the　time　passed　not　so　heavily　till　her
return。　　This　was　announced　by　the　mounting　of　the　elevator　to　their
landing；　and　then　by　low；　rapid　pleading　in　a　man's　voice　outside。　
Kenton　was　about　to　open　the　door；　when　there　came　the　formless　noise　of
what　seemed　a　struggle；　and　Ellen's　voice　rose　in　a　muffed　cry：　〃Oh！　　Oh！　
Let　me　be！　　Go　away！　　I　hate　you！〃　　Kenton　the　door　open；　and　Ellen　burst
in；　running　to　hide　her　face　in　her　mother's　breast；　where　she　sobbed
out；　〃Hehe　kissed　me！〃　　like　a　terrified　child　more　than　an　insulted
woman。　　Through　the　open　door　came　the　clatter　of　Bittridge's　feet　as　he
ran　down…stairs。




VII。

When　Mrs。　Kenton　came　from　quieting　the　hysterical　girl　in　her　room　she
had　the　task；　almost　as　delicate　and　difficult；　of　quieting　her　husband。　
She　had　kept　him；　by　the　most　solemn　and　exhaustive　entreaty；　from
following　Bittridge　downstairs　and　beating　him　with　his　stick；　and　now
she　was　answerable　to　him　for　his　forbearance。　　〃If　yon　don't　behave
yourself；　Rufus；〃　she　had　to　say；　〃you　will　have　some　sort　of　stroke。　
After　all；　there's　no　harm　done。〃

〃No　harm！　　Do　you　call　it　no　harm　for　that　hound　to　kiss　Ellen？〃

〃He　wouldn't　have　attempted　it　unless　something　had　led　up　to　it；　I
suppose。〃

〃Sarah！　　How　can　you　speak　so　of　that　angel？〃

〃Oh；　that　angel　is　a　girl　like　the　rest。　　You　kissed　me　before　we　were
engaged。〃

〃That　was　very　different。〃

〃I　don't　see　how。　　If　your　daughter　is　so　sacred；　why　wasn't　her　mother？　
You　men　don't　think　your　wives　are　sacred。　　That's　it！〃

〃No；　no；　Sarah！　　It's　because　I　don't　think　of　you　as　apart　from　myself；
that　I　can't　think　of　you　as　I　do　of　Ellen。　　I　beg　your　pardon　if　I
seemed　to　set　her　above　you。　　But　when　I　kissed　you　we　were　very　young；
and　we　lived　in　a　simple　day；　when　such　things　meant　no　harm；　and　I　was
very　fond　of　you；　and　you　were　the　holiest　thing　in　the　world　to　me。　　Is
Ellen　holy　to　that　fellow？〃

〃I　know；〃　Mrs。　Kenton　relented。　　〃I'm　not　comparing　him　to　you。　　And
there　is　a　difference　with　Ellen。　　She　isn't　like　other　girls。　　If　it　had
been　Lottie〃

〃I　shouldn't　have　liked　it　with　Lottie；　either；〃　said　the　major；　stiffly。　
〃But　if　it　had　been　Lottie　she　would　have　boxed　his　ears　for　him；　instead
of　running　to　you。　　Lottie　can　take　care　of　herself。　　And　I　will　take
care　of　Ellen。　　When　I　see　that　scoundrel　in　the　morning〃

〃What　will　you　do；　an　old　man　like　you！　　I　can　tell　you；　it's　something
you've　just　got　to　bear　it　if　you　don't　want　the　scandal　to　fill　the
whole　hotel。　　It's　a　very　fortunate　thing；　after　all。　　It'll　put　an　end
to　the　whole　affair。〃

〃Do　you　think　so；　Sarah？　　If　I　believed　that。　　What　does　Ellen　say？〃

〃Nothing；　she　won't　say　anythingjust　cries　and　hides　her　face。
I　believe　she　is　ashamed　of　having　made　a　scene　before　us。　　But　I　know
that　she's　so　disgusted　with　him　that　she　will　never　look　at　him　again；
and　if　it's　brought　her　to　that　I　should　think　his　kissing　her　the
greatest　blessing　in　the　world　to　us　all。　　Yes；　Ellen！〃

Mrs。　Kenton　hurried　off　at　a　faint　call　from　the　girl's　room；　and　when
she　came　again　she　sat　down　to　a　long　discussion　of　the　situation　with
her　husband；　while　she　slowly　took　down　her　hair　and　prepared　it　for　the
night。　　Her　conclusion；　which　she　made　her　husband's；　was　that　it　was
most　fortunate　they　should　be　sailing　so　soon；　and　that　it　was　the
greatest　pity　they　were　not　sailing　in　the　morning。　　She　wished　him　to
sleep；　whether　she　slept　herself　or　not；　and　she　put　the　most　hopeful
face　possible　upon　the　matter。　　〃One　thing　you　can　rest　assured　of；
Rufus；　and　that　is　that　it's　all　over　with　Ellen。　　She　may　never　speak　to
you　about　him；　and　you　mustn't　ever　mention　him；　but　she　feels　just　as
you　could　wish。　　Does　that　satisfy　you？　　Some　time　I　will　tell　you　all
she　says。〃

〃I　don't　care　to　hear；〃　said　Kenton。　　〃All　I　want　is　for　him　to　keep　away
from　me。　　I　think　if　he　spoke　to　me　I　should　kill　him。〃

〃Rufus！〃

〃I　can't　help　it；　Sarah。　　I　feel　outraged　to　the　bottom　of　my　soul。　　I
could　kill　him。〃

Mrs。　Kenton　turned　her　head　and　looked　steadfastly　at　him　over　her
shoulder。　　〃If　you　strike　him；　if　you　touch　him；　Mr。　Kenton；　you　will
undo　everything　that　the　abominable　wretch　has　done　for　Ellen；　and　you
will　close　my　mouth　and　tie　my　hands。　　Will　you　promise　that　under　no
provocation　whatever　will　you　do　him　the　least　harm？　　I　know　Ellen　better
than　you　do；　and　I　know　that　you　will　make　her　hate　you　unless〃

〃Oh；　I　will　promise。　　You　needn't　be　afraid。　　Lord　help　me！〃　　Kenton
groaned。　　〃I　won't　touch　him。　　But　don't　expect　me　to　speak　to　him。〃

〃No；　I　don't　expect　that。　　He　won't　offer　to　speak　to　you。〃

They　slept；　and　in　the　morning　she　stayed　to　breakfast　with　Ellen　in
their　apartment；　and　let　her　husband　go　down　with　their　younger　children。　
She　could　trust　him　now；　whatever　form　his　further　trial　should　take；　and
he　felt　that　he　was　pledging　himself　to　her　anew；　when　Bittridge　came
hilariously　to　meet　him　in　the　reading…room；　where　he　went　for　a　paper
after　breakfast。

〃Ah；　judge！〃　　said　the　young　man；　gayly。　　〃Hello；　Boyne！〃　　he　added　to
the　boy；　who　had　come　with　his　father；　Lottie　had　gone　directly　up…stairs
from　the　breakfast…room。　　〃I　hope　you're　all　well　this　morning？　　Play　not
too　much　for　Miss　Ellen？〃

Kenton　looked　him　in　the　face　without　answering；　and　then　tried　to　get
away　from　him；　but　Bittridge　followed　him　up；　talking；　and　ignoring　his
silence。

〃It　was　a　splendid　piece；　judge。　　You　must　take　Mrs。　Kenton。　　I　know
you'll　both　like　it。　　I　haven't　ever　seen　Miss　Ellen　so　interested。　　I
hope　the　walk　home　didn't　fatigue　her。　　I　wanted　to　get　a　cab；　but　she
would　walk：　　The　judge　kept　moving　on；　with　his　head　down。　　He　did　not
speak；　and　Bittridge　was　forced　to　notice　his　silence。　　〃Nothing　the
matter；　I　hope；　with　Miss　Ellen；　judge？〃

〃Go　away；〃　said　the　judge；　in　a　low　voice；　fumbling　the　head　of　his
stick。

〃Why；　what's　up？〃　　asked　Bittridge；　and　he　managed　to　get　in　front　of
Kenton　and　stay　him　at　a　point　where　Kenton　could　not　escape。　　It　was　a
corner　of　the　room　to　which　the　old　man　had　aimlessly　tended；　with　no
purpose　but　to　avoid　him：

〃I　wish　you　to　let　me　alone；　sir；〃　said　Kenton　at　last。　　〃I　can't　speak
to　you。〃

〃I　understand　what　you　mean；　judge；〃　said　Bittridge；　with　a　grin；　all　the
more　maddening　because　it　seemed　involuntary。　　〃But　I　can　explain
everything。　　I　just　want　a　few　words　with　you。　　It's　very　important；　it's
life　or　death　with　me；　sir；〃　he　said；　trying　to　look　grave。　　〃Will　you
let　me　go　to　your　rooms　with　you？〃

Kenton　made　no　reply。

Bittridge　began　to　laugh。　　〃Then　let's　sit　down　here；　or　in　the　ladies'
parlor。　　It　won't　take　me　two　minutes　to　make　everything　right。　　If　you
don't　believe　I'm　in　earnest　I　know　you　don't　think　I　am；　but　I　can
assure　youWill　you　let　me　speak　with　you　about　Miss　Ellen？〃

Still　Kenton　did　not　answer；　shutting　his　lips　tight；　and　remembering　his
promise　to　his　wife。

Bittridge　laughed；　as　if　in　a