the kentons-第14章

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By　this　time　they　were　leaning　on　the　rail　of　the　promenade；　looking　over
at　what　little　was　left　of　Long　Island；　and　she　said；　abruptly：　〃I　think
I　will　go　and　see　how　my　father　is　getting　along。〃

〃Oh；　do　take　me　with　you；　Miss　Kenton！〃　　Mr：　Breckon　entreated。　　〃I　am
feeling　very　badly　about　that　poor　old　joke。　　I　know　you　don't　think　well
of　me　for　it；　and　I　wish　to　report　what　I've　been　saying　to　your　father；
and　let　him　judge　me。　　I've　heard　that　it's　hard　to　live　up　to　Ohio
people　when　you're　at　your　best；　and　I　do　hope　you'll　believe　I　have　not
been　quite　at　my　best。　　Will　you　let　me　come　with　you？〃

Lottie　did　not　know　whether　he　was　making　fun　of　her　or　not；　but　she
said；　〃Oh；　it's　a　free　country；〃　and　allowed　him　to　go　with　her。

His　preface　made　the　judge　look　rather　grave；　but　when　he　came　to　the
joke；　Kenton　laughed　and　said　it　was　not　bad。

〃Oh；　but　that　isn't　quite　the　point；〃　said　Mr。　Breckon。　　〃The　question　is
whether　I　am　good　in　repeating　it　to　a　young　lady　who　was　seeking　serious
instruction　on　a　point　of　theology。〃

〃I　don't　know　what　she　would　have　done　with　the　instruction　if　she　had
got　it；〃　said　the　judge；　dryly；　and　the　young　man　ventured　in　her　behalf：

〃It　would　be　difficult　for　any　one　to　manage；　perhaps。〃

〃Perhaps；〃　Kenton　assented；　and　Lottie　could　see　that　he　was　thinking
Ellen　would　know　what　to　do　with　it。

She　resented　that；　and　she　was　in　the　offence　that　girls　feel　when　their
elders　make　them　the　subject　of　comment　with　their　contemporaries。　
〃Well；　I'll　leave　you　to　discuss　it　alone。　　I'm　going　to　Ellen；〃　she
said；　the　young　man　vainly　following　her　a　few　paces；　with　apologetic
gurgles　of　laughter。

〃That's　right；〃　her　father　consented；　and　then　he　seized　the　opening　to
speak　about　Ellen。　　〃My　eldest　daughter　is　something　of　an　invalid；　but　I
hope　we　shall　have　her　on　deck　before　the　voyage　is　over。　　She　is　more
interested　in　those　matters　than　her　sister。〃

〃Oh！〃　　Mr。　Breckon　interpolated；　in　a　note　of　sympathetic　interest。　　He
could　not　well　do　more。

It　was　enough　for　Judge　Kenton；　who　launched　himself　upon　the　celebration
of　Ellen's　gifts　and　qualities　with　a　simple…hearted　eagerness　which　he
afterwards　denied　when　his　wife　accused　him　of　it；　but　justified　as
wholly　safe　in　view　of　Mr。　Breckon's　calling　and　his　obvious　delicacy　of
mind。　　It　was　something　that　such　a　person　would　understand；　and　Kenton
was　sure　that　he　had　not　unduly　praised　the　girl。　　A　less　besotted　parent
might　have　suspected　that　he　had　not　deeply　interested　his　listener；　who
seemed　glad　of　the　diversion　operated　by　Boyne's　coming　to　growl　upon　his
father；　〃Mother's　bringing　Ellen　up。〃

〃Oh；　then；　I　mustn't　keep　your　chair；〃　said　the　minister；　and　he　rose
promptly　from　the　place　he　had　taken　beside　the　judge；　and　got　himself
away　to　the　other　side　of　the　ship　before　the　judge　could　frame　a　fitting
request　for　him　to　stay。

〃If　you　had；〃　Mrs。　Kenton　declared；　when　he　regretted　this　to　her；
〃I　don't　know　what　I　would　have　done。　　It's　bad　enough　for　him　to　hear
you　bragging　about　the　child　without　being　kept　to　help　take　care　of　her；
or　keep　her　amused；　as　you　call　it。　　I　will　see　that　Ellen　is　kept　amused
without　calling　upon　strangers。〃　　She　intimated　that　if　Kenton　did　not
act　with　more　self…restraint　she　should　do　little　less　than　take　Ellen
ashore；　and　abandon　him　to　the　voyage　alone。　　Under　the　intimidation　he
promised　not　to　speak　of　Ellen　again。

At　luncheon；　where　Mr。　Breckon　again　devoted　himself　to　Lottie；　he　and
Ellen　vied　in　ignoring　each　other　after　their　introduction；　as　far　as
words　went。　　The　girl　smiled　once　or　twice　at　what　he　was　saying　to　her
sister；　and　his　glance　kindled　when　it　detected　her　smile。　　He　might　be
supposed　to　spare　her　his　conversation　in　her　own　interest；　she　looked　so
little　able　to　cope　with　the　exigencies　of　the　talk　he　kept　going。

When　he　addressed　her　she　answered　as　if　she　had　not　been　listening；　and
he　turned　back　to　Lottie。　　After　luncheon　he　walked　with　her；　and　their
acquaintance　made　such　a　swift　advance　that　she　was　able　to　ask　him　if　he
laughed　that　way　with　everybody。

He　laughed；　and　then　he　begged　her　pardon　if　he　had　been　rude。

〃Well；　I　don't　see　what　there　is　to　laugh　at　so　much。　　When　you　ask　me　a
thing　I　tell　you　just　what　I　think；　and　it　seems　to　set　you　off　in　a
perfect　gale。　　Don't　you　expect　people　to　say　what　they　think？〃

〃I　think　it's　beautiful；〃　said　the　young　man；　going　into　the　gale；
and　I've　got　to　expecting　it　of　you；　at　any　rate。　　Butbut　it's　always
so　surprising！　　It　isn't　what　you　expect　of　people　generally；　is　it？〃

〃I　don't　expect　it　of　you；〃　said　Lottie。

〃No？〃　　asked　Mr。　Breckon；　in　another　gale。　　〃Am　I　so　uncandid？〃

〃I　don't　know　about　uncandid。　　But　I　should　say　you　were　slippery。〃

At　this　extraordinary　criticism　the　young　man　looked　graver　than　he　had
yet　been　able　to　do　since　the　beginning　of　their　acquaintance。　　He　said；
presently；　〃I　wish　you　would　explain　what　you　mean　by　slippery。〃

〃You're　as　close　as　a　trap！〃

〃Really？〃

〃It　makes　me　tired。〃

〃If　you're　not　too　tired　now　I　wish　you　would　say　how。〃

〃Oh；　you　understand　well　enough。　　You've　got　me　to　say　what　I　think　about
all　sorts　of　things；　and　you　haven't　expressed　your　opinion　on　a　single；
solitary　point？〃

Lottie　looked　fiercely　out　to　sea；　turning　her　face　so　as　to　keep　him
from　peering　around　into　it　in　the　way　he　had。　　For　that　reason；　perhaps；
he　did　not　try　to　do　so。　　He　answered；　seriously：　〃I　believe　you　are
partly　right。　　I'm　afraid　I　haven't　seemed　quite　fair。　　Couldn't　you
attribute　my　closeness　to　something　besides　my　slipperiness？〃　　He　began
to　laugh　again。　　〃Can't　you　imagine　my　being　interested　in　your　opinions
so　much　more　than　my　own　that　I　didn't　care　to　express　mine？〃

Lottie　said；　impatiently；　〃Oh；　pshaw！〃　She　had　hesitated　whether　to　say；
〃Rats！〃

〃But　now；〃　he　pursued；　〃if　you　will　suggest　some　point　on　which　I　can
give　you　an　opinion；　I　promise　solemnly　to　do　so；〃　but　he　was　not　very
solemn　as　he　spoke。

〃Well；　then；　I　will；〃　she　said。　　〃Don't　yon　think　it's　very　strange；　to
say　the　least；　for　a　minister　to　be　always　laughing　so　much？〃

Mr。　Breckon　gave　a　peal　of　delight；　and　answered；　〃Yes；　I　certainly　do。〃
He　controlled　himself　so　far　as　to　say：　〃Now　I　think　I've　been　pretty
open　with　you；　and　I　wish　you'd　answer　me　a　question。　　Will　you？〃

〃Well；　I　willone；〃　said　Lottie。

〃It　may　be　two　or　three；　but　I'll　begin　with　one。　　Why　do　you　think　a
minister　ought　to　be　more　serious　than　other　men？〃

〃Why？　　Well；　I　should　think　you'd　know。　　You　wouldn't　laugh　at　a　funeral；
would　you？〃

〃I've　been　at　some　funerals　where　it　would　have　been　a　relief　to　laugh；
and　I've　wanted　to　cry　at　some　weddings。　　But　you　think　it　wouldn't　do？〃

〃Of　course　it　wouldn't。　　I　should　think　you'd　know　as　much　as　that；〃　said
Lottie；　out　of　patience　with　him。

〃But　a　minister　isn't　always　marrying　or　burying　people；　and　in　the；
intervals；　why　shouldn't　he　be　setting　them　an　example　of　harmless
cheerfulness？〃

〃He　ought　to　be　thinking　more　about　the　other　world；　I　should　say。〃

〃Well；　if　he　believes　there　is　another　world〃

〃Why！　　Don't　you？〃　　she　broke　out　on　him。

Mr。　Breckon　ruled　himself　and　continued〃as　strenuously　and
unquestionably　as　he　ought；　he　has　greater　reason　than　other　men　for
gayety　through　his　faith　in　a　happier　state　of　being　than　this。　　That's
one　of　the　reasons　I　use　against　myself　when　I　think　of　leaving　off
laughing。　　Now；　Miss　Kenton；〃　he　concluded；　〃for　such　a　close　and
slippery　nature；　I　think　I've　been　pretty　frank；〃　and　he　looked　round　and
down　into　her　face　with　a　burst　of　laughter　that　could　be　heard　an　the
other　side　of　the　ship。　　He　refused　to　take　up　any　serious　topic　after
that；　and　he　returned　to　his　former　amusement　of　making　her　give　herself
away。

That　night　Lottie　came　to　her　room　with　an　expression　so　decisive　in　her
face　that　Ellen；　following　it　with　vague；　dark　eyes　as　it　showed　itself
in　the　glass　at　which　her　sister　stood　taking　out　the　first　dismantling
hairpins　before　going　to　bed；　could　not　fail　of　something　portentous　in
it。

〃Well；〃　said　Lottie；　with　severe　finality；　〃I　haven't　got　any　use　for
THAT　young　man　from　this　time　out。　　Of　all　the　tiresome　people；　he
certainly　takes　the　cake。　　You　can　have　him；　Ellen；　if　you　want　him。〃

〃What's　the　matter　with　him？〃　　asked　Ellen；　with　a　voice　in　sympathy　with
the　slow　movement　of　her　large　eyes　as　she　lay　in　her　berth；　staring　at
Lottie。

〃There's　everything　the　matter；　that　oughtn't　to　be。　　He's　too　trivial
for　anything：　I　like　a　man　that's　serious　about　one　thing　in　the
universe；　at　least；　and　that's　just　what　Mr。　Breckon　isn't。〃　　She　went　at
such　length　into　his　disabilities　that　by　the　time　she　returned　to　the
climax　with　which　she　started　she　was　ready　to　clamber　into　the　upper
berth；　and　as　she　snapped　the　electric　button　at　its　head　she　repeated；
〃He's　trivial。〃

〃Isn't　it　getting　rough？〃　asked　Ellen。　　〃The　ship　seems　to　be　tipping。〃

〃Yes；　it　is；〃　said　Lottie；　crossly。　　〃Good…night。〃

If　the　Rev。　Mr。　Breckon　was　making　an　early　breakfast　in　the　hope　of
sooner　meeting　Lottie；　who　had　dismissed　him　the　night　before　without
encouraging　him　to　believe　that　she　wished　ever　to　see　him　again；　he　was
destined　to　disappointment。　　The　deputation　sent　to　breakfast　by　the
paradoxical　family　whose　acquaintance　he　had　made　on　terms　of　each
forbidding　intimacy；　did　not　include　the　girl　who　had　frankly　provoked
his　confidence　and　severely　snubbed　it。　　He　had　left　her　brother　very
sea…sick　in　their　state…room；　and　her　mother　was　reported　by　her　father
to　be　feeling　the　motion　too　much　to　venture　out。　　The　judge　was；　in
fact；　the　only　person　at　table　when　Breckon　sat　down；　but　when　he　had
accounted　for　his　wife's　absence；　and　confessed　that　he　did　not　believe
either　of　his　daughters　was　coming；　Ellen　gainsaid　him　by　appearing　and
advancing　quite　steadily　along　the　saloon　to　the　place　beside　him。　　It
had　not　gone　so　far　as　this　in　the　judge's　experience　of　a　neurotic
invalid　without　his　learning　to　ask　her　no　questions　about　herself。　　He
had　always　a　hard　task　in　refraining；　but　he　had　grown　able　to　refrain；
and　now　he　merely　looked　unobtrusively　glad　to　see　her；　and　asked　her
where　Lottie　was。

〃Oh；　she　doesn't　want　any　breakfast；　she　says。　　Is　momma　sick；　too？
Where's　Boyne？〃

The　judge　reported　as　to　her　mother；　and　Mr。　Breckon；　after　the　exchange
of　a　silent　salutation　with　the　girl；　had　a　gleeful　moment　in　describing
Boyne's　revolt　at　the　steward's　notion　of　gruel。　　〃I'm　glad　to　see　you　so
well；　Miss　Kenton；〃　he　concluded。

〃I　suppose　I　will　be　sick；　too；　if　it　gets　rougher；〃　she　said；　and　she
turned　from　him　to　give　a　rather　compendious　order　to　the　table　steward。

〃Well；　you've　got　an　appetite；　Ellen；〃　her　father　ventured。

〃I　don't　believe　I　will　eat　anything；〃　she　checked　him；　with　a　falling
face。

Breckon　came　to　the　aid　of　the　judge。　　〃If　you're　not　sick　now；　I
prophesy　you　won't　be；　Miss　Kenton。　　It　can't　get　much　rougher；　without
doing　something　uncommon。〃

〃Is　it　a　storm？〃　　she　asked；　indifferently。

〃It's　what　they　call　half　a　gale；　I　believe。　　I　don't　know　how　they
measure　it。