the kentons-第13章

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began　her　letters　to　Mrs。　Kenton；　in　order　to　distinguish　her　from　her
own　mother。　　〃Now　what　shall　I　say？〃

〃Simply　this；〃　answered　Richard。　　〃That　I　knew　of　what　had　happened　in
New　York；　and　when　I　met　him　this　morning　I　cowhided　him。　　Ugh！〃

〃Well；　that　won't　do；　Dick。　　You've　got　to　tell　all　about　it。　　Your
mother　won't　understand。〃

〃Then　you　write　what　you　please；　and　read　it　to　me。　　It　makes　me　sick　to
think　of　it。〃　　Richard　closed　his　eyes；　and　Mary　wrote：

　　　　　〃DEAR　MOTHER　KENTON；I　am　sitting　by　Richard；　writing　at　his
　　　　　request；　about　what　he　has　done。　　He　received　a　letter　from　New　York
　　　　　telling　him　of　the　Bittridges'　performances　there；　and　how　that
　　　　　wretch　had　insulted　and　abused　you　all。　　He　bought　a　cowhide；
　　　　　meaning　to　go　over　to　Ballardsville；　and　use　it　on　him　there；　but　B。　
　　　　　came　over　on　the　Accommodation　this　morning；　and　Richard　met　him　at
　　　　　the　station。　　He　did　not　attempt　to　resist；　for　Richard　took　him
　　　　　quite　by　surprise。　　Now；　Mother　Kenton；　you　know　that　Richard
　　　　　doesn't　approve　of　violence；　and　the　dear；　sweet　soul　is　perfectly
　　　　　broken…down　by　what　he　had　to　do。　　But　he　had　to　do　it；　and　he
　　　　　wishes　you　to　know　at；　once　that　he　did　it。　　He　dreads　the　effect
　　　　　upon　Ellen；　and　we　must　leave　it　to　your　judgment　about　telling　her。　
　　　　　Of　course；　sooner　or　later　she　must　find　it　out。　　You　need　not　be
　　　　　alarmed　about　Richard。　　He　is　just　nauseated　a　little；　and　he　will
　　　　　be　all　right　as　soon　as　his　stomach　is　settled。　　He　thinks　you　ought
　　　　　to　have　this　letter　before　you　sail；　and　with　affectionate　good…byes
　　　　　to　all；　in　which　Dick　joins；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Your　loving　daughter；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Mary　KENTON。〃

〃There！　　Will　that　do？〃

〃Yes；　that　is　everything　that　can　be　said；〃　answered　Richard；　and　Mary
kissed　him　gratefully　before　sealing　her　letter。

〃I　will　put　a　special　delivery　on　it；〃　she　said；　and　her　precaution
availed　to　have　the　letter　delivered　to　Mrs。　Kenton　the　evening　the
family　left　the　hotel；　when　it　was　too　late　to　make　any　change　in　their
plans；　but　in　time　to　give　her　a　bad　night　on　the　steamer；　in　her　doubt
whether　she　ought　to　let　the　family　go；　with　this　trouble　behind　them。

But　she　would　have　had　a　bad　night　on　the　steamer　in　any　case；　with　the
heat；　and　noise；　and　smell　of　the　docks；　and　the　steamer　sailed　with　her
at　six　o'clock　the　next　morning　with　the　doubt　still　open　in　her　mind。　
The　judge　had　not　been　of　the　least　use　to　her　in　helping　solve　it；　and
she　had　not　been　able　to　bring　herself　to　attack　Lottie　for　writing　to
Richard。　　She　knew　it　was　Lottie　who　had　made　the　mischief；　but　she　could
not　be　sure　that　it　was　mischief　till　she　knew　its　effect　upon　Ellen。　
The　girl　had　been　carried　in　the　arms　of　one　of　the　stewards　from　the
carriage　to　her　berth　in　Lottie's　room；　and　there　she　had　lain　through
the　night；　speechless　and　sleepless。




IX。

Ellen　did　not　move　or　manifest　any　consciousness　when　the　steamer　left
her　dock　and　moved　out　into　the　stream；　or　take　any　note　of　the　tumult
that　always　attends　a　great　liner's　departure。　　At　breakfast…time　her
mother　came　to　her　from　one　of　the　brief　absences　she　made；　in　the　hope
that　at　each　turn　she　should　find　her　in　a　different　mood；　and　asked　if
she　would　not　have　something　to　eat。

〃I'm　not　hungry；〃　she　answered。　　〃When　will　it　sail？〃

〃Why；　Ellen！　　We　sailed　two　hours　ago；　and　the　pilot　has　just　left　us。〃

Ellen　lifted　herself　on　her　elbow　and　stared　at　her。　　〃And　you　let　me！〃　
she　said；　cruelly。

〃Ellen！　　I　will　not　have　this！〃　　cried　her　mother；　frantic　at　the
reproach。　　〃What　do　you　mean　by　my　letting　you？　　You　knew　that　we　were
going　to　sail；　didn't　you？　　What　else　did　you　suppose　we　had　come　to　the
steamer　for？〃

〃I　supposed　you　would　let　me　stay；　if　I　wanted　to：　But　go　away；　momma；　go
away！　　You're　all　against　meyou；　and　poppa；　and　Lottie；　and　Boyne。　　Oh；
dear！　oh；　dear！〃　　She　threw　herself　down　in　her　berth　and　covered　her
face　with　the　sheet；　sobbing；　while　her　mother　stood　by　in　an　anguish　of
pity　and　anger。　　She　wanted　to　beat　the　girl；　she　wanted　to　throw　herself
upon　her；　and　weep　with　her　in　the　misery　which　she　shared　with　her。

Lottie　came　to　the　door　of　the　state…room　with　an　arm…load　of　long…
stemmed　roses；　the　gift　of　the　young　Mr。　Plumpton；　who　had　not　had　so
much　to　be　entreated　to　come　down　to　the　steamer　and　see　her　off　as　Boyne
had　pretended。　　〃Momma；〃　she　said；　〃I　have　got　to　leave　these　roses　in
here；　whether　Ellen　likes　it　or　not。　　Boyne　won't　have　them　in　his　room；
because　he　says　the　man　that's　with　him　would　have　a　right　to　object；　and
this　is　half　my　room；　anyway。〃

Mrs。　Kenton　frowned　and　shook　her　head；　but　Ellen　answered　from　under　the
sheet；　〃I　don't　mind　the　roses；　Lottie。　　I　wish　you'd　stay　with　me　a
little　while。〃

Lottie　hesitated；　having　in　mind　the　breakfast　for　which　the　horn　had
just　sounded。　　But　apparently　she　felt　that　one　good　turn　deserved
another；　and　she　answered：　〃All　right；　I　will；　Nell。　　Momma；　you　tell
Boyne　to　hurry；　and　come　to　Ellen　as　soon　as　he's　done；　and　then　I　will
go。　　Don't　let　anybody　take　my　place。〃

〃I　wish；〃　said　Ellen；　still　from　under　the　sheet；　〃that　momma　would　have
your　breakfast　sent　here。　　I　don't　want　Boyne。〃

Women　apparently　do　not　require　any　explanation　of　these　swift
vicissitudes　in　one　another；　each　knowing　probably　in　herself　the　nerves
from　which　they　proceed。　　Mrs。　Kenton　promptly　assented；　in　spite　of　the
sulky　reluctance　which　Lottie's　blue　eyes　looked　at　her；　she　motioned　her
violently　to　silence；　and　said：　〃Yes；　I　will；　Ellen。　　I　will　send
breakfast　for　both　of　you。〃

When　she　was　gone；　Ellen　uncovered　her　face　and　asked　Lottie　to　dip　a
towel　in　water　and　give　it　to　her。　　As　she　bathed　her　eyes　she　said；
〃You　don't　care；　do　you；　Lottie？〃

〃Not　very　much；〃　said　Lottie；　unsparingly。　　I　can　go　to　lunch；　I
suppose。〃

〃Maybe　I'll　go　to　lunch　with　you；〃　Ellen　suggested；　as　if　she　were
speaking　of　some　one　else。

Lottie　wasted　neither　sympathy　nor　surprise　on　the　question。　　〃Well；
maybe　that　would　be　the　best　thing。　　Why　don't　you　come　to　breakfast？〃

〃No；　I　won't　go　to　breakfast。　　But　you　go。〃

When　Lottie　joined　her　family　in　the　dining…saloon　she　carelessly
explained　that　Ellen　had　said　she　wanted　to　be　alone。　　Before　the　young
man；　who　was　the　only　other　person　besides　the　Kentons　at　their　table；
her　mother　could　not　question　her　with　any　hope　that　the　bad　would　not　be
made　worse；　and　so　she　remained　silent。　　Judge　Kenton　sat　with　his　eyes
fixed　on　his　plate；　where　as　yet　the　steward　had　put　no　breakfast　for
him；　Boyne　was　supporting　the　dignity　of　the　family　in　one　of　those
moments　of　majesty　from　which　he　was　so　apt　to　lapse　into　childish
dependence。　　Lottie　offered　him　another　alternative　by　absently　laying
hold　of　his　napkin　on　the　table。

〃That's　mine；〃　he　said；　with　husky　gloom。

She　tossed　it　back　to　him　with　prompt　disdain　and　a　deeply　eye…lashed
glance　at　a　napkin　on　her　right。　　The　young　man　who　sat　next　it　said；
with　a　smile；　〃Perhaps　that's　yours…unless　I've　taken　my　neighbor's。〃

Lottie　gave　him　a　stare；　and　when　she　had　sufficiently　punished　him　for
his　temerity　said；　rather　sweetly；　〃Oh；　thank　you；〃　and　took　the　napkin。

〃I　hope　we　shall　all　have　use　for　them　before　long；〃　the　young　man
ventured　again。

〃Well；　I　should　think　as　much；〃　returned　the　girl；　and　this　was　the
beginning　of　a　conversation　which　the　young　man　shared　successively　with
the　judge　and　Mrs。　Kenton　as　opportunity　offered。　　He　gave　the　judge　his
card　across　the　table；　and　when　the　judge　had　read　on　it；　〃Rev。　Hugh
Breckon；〃　he　said　that　his　name　was　Kenton；　and　he　introduced　the　young
man　formally　to　his　family。　　Mr。　Breckon　had　a　clean…shaven　face；　with　an
habitual　smile　curving　into　the　cheeks　from　under　a　long；　straight　nose；
his　chin　had　a　slight　whopper…jaw　twist　that　was　charming；　his　gay　eyes
were　blue；　and　a　full　vein　came　down　his　forehead　between　them　from　his
smooth　hair。　　When　he　laughed；　which　was　often；　his　color　brightened。

Boyne　was　named　last；　and　then　Mr。　Breckon　said；　with　a　smile　that　showed
all　his　white　teeth；　〃Oh　yes；　Mr。　Boyne　and　I　are　friends　alreadyever
since　we　found　ourselves　room…mates；〃　and　but　for　us；　as　Lottie
afterwards　noted；　they　might　never　have　known　Boyne　was　rooming　with　him；
and　could　easily　have　made　all　sorts　of　insulting　remarks　about　Mr。
Breckon　in　their　ignorance。

The　possibility　seemed　to　delight　Mr。　Breckon；　he　invited　her　to　make　all
the　insulting　remarks　she　could　think　of；　any　way；　and　professed　himself
a　loser；　so　far　as　her　real　opinion　was　withheld　from　him　by　reason　of
his　rashness　in　giving　the　facts　away。　　In　the　electrical　progress　of
their　acquaintance　she　had　begun　walking　up　and　down　the　promenade　with
him　after　they　came　up　from　breakfast；　her　mother　had　gone　to　Ellen；　the
judge　had　been　made　comfortable　in　his　steamer…chair；　and　Boyne　had　been
sent　about　his　business。

〃I　will　try　to　think　some　up；〃　she　promised　him；　〃as　soon　as　I　HAVE　any
real　opinion　of　you；〃　and　he　asked　her　if　he　might　consider　that　a
beginning。

She　looked　at　him　out　of　her　indomitable　blue　eyes；　and　said；　〃If　it
hadn't　been　for　your　card；　and　the　Reverend　on　it；　I　should　have　said　you
were　an　actor。〃

〃Well；　well；〃　said　Mr。　Breckon；　with　a　laugh；　perhaps　I　am；　in　a　way。
I　oughtn't　to　be；　of　course；　but　if　a　minister　ever　forces　himself；　I
suppose　he's　acting。〃

〃I　don't　see；〃　said　Lottie；　instantly　availing　herself　of　the　opening；
〃how　you　can　get　up　and　pray；　Sunday　after　Sunday；　whether　you　feel　like
it　or　not。〃

The　young　man　said；　with　another　laugh；　but　not　so　gay；　〃　Well；　the　case
has　its　difficulties。〃

〃Or　perhaps　you　just　read　prayers；〃　Lottie　sharply　conjectured。

〃No；〃　he　returned；　〃I　haven't　that　advantageif　you　think　it　one。
I'm　a　sort　of　a　Unitarian。　　Very　advanced；　too；　I'm　afraid。〃

〃Is　that　a　kind　of　Universalist？〃

〃Notnot　exactly。　　There's　an　old　jokeI'm　not　sure　it's　very　good
which　distinguishes　between　the　sects。　　It's　said　that　the　Universalists
think　God　is　too　good　to　damn　them；　and　the　Unitarians　think　they　are　too
good　to　be　damned。〃　　Lottie　shrank　a　little　from　him。　　〃Ah！〃　he　cried；
〃you　think　it　sounds　wicked。　　Well；　I'm　sorry。　　I'm　not　clerical　enough
to　joke　about　serious　things。〃

He　looked　into　her　face　with　a　pretended　anxiety。　　〃Oh；　I　don't　know；〃
she　said；　with　a　little　scorn。　　〃I　guess　if　you　can　stand　it；　I　can。〃

〃I'm　not　sure　that　I　can。　　I'm　afraid　it's　more　in　keeping　with　an
actor's　profession　than　my　own。　　Why；〃　he　added；　as　if　to　make　a
diversion；　〃should　you　have　thought　I　was　an　actor？〃

〃I　suppose　because　you　were　clean…shaved；　and　your　pronunciation。　　So
Englishy。〃

〃Is　it？　　Perhaps　I　ought　to　be　proud。　　But　I'm　not　an　Englishman。　　I　am　a
plain　republican　American。　　May　I　ask　if　you　are　English？〃

〃Oh！〃　　said　Lottie。　　〃As　if　you　thought　such　a　thing。　　We're　from　Ohio。〃

Mr。　Breckon　said；　〃Ah！〃　　Lottie　could　not　make　out　in　just　what　sense。

By　this　time　they　were　leaning　on　the　rail　of　the　promenade；　looking　over
at　what　little　was　left　of　Long　Island；　and　she