the kentons-第16章

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hers。

〃It　makes　me　think；〃　she　said；　and　he　perceived　that　she　meant　the　sea；
〃of　the　cold…white；　heavy　plunging　foam　in　'The　Dream　of　Fair　Women。'
The　words　always　seemed　drenched！〃

〃Ah；　Tennyson；　yes；〃　said　Breckon；　with　a　disposition　to　smile　at　the
simple…heartedness　of　the　literary　allusion。　　〃Do　young　ladies　read
poetry　much　in　Ohio？〃

〃I　don't　believe　they　do；〃　she　answered。　　〃Do　they　anywhere？〃

〃That's　one　of　the　things　I　should　like　to　know。　　Is　Tennyson　your
favorite　poet？〃

〃I　don't　believe　I　have　any；〃　said　Ellen。　　〃I　used　to　like　Whither；　and
Emerson；　aid　Longfellow；　too。〃

〃Used　to！　　Don't　you　now？〃

〃I　don't　read　them　so　much　now；〃　and　she　made　a　pause；　behind　which　he
fancied　her　secret　lurked。　　But　he　shrank　from　knowing　it　if　he　might。

〃You're　all　great　readers　in　your　family；〃　he　suggested；　as　a　polite
diversion。

〃Lottie　isn't；〃　she　answered；　dreamily。　　〃She　hates　it。〃

〃Ah；　I　referred　more　particularly　to　the　others；〃　said　Breckon；　and　he
began　to　laugh；　and　then　checked　himself。　　〃Your　mother；　and　the　judge
and　your　brother〃

〃Boyne　reads　about　insects；〃　she　admitted。

〃He　told　me　of　his　collection　of　cocoons。　　He　seems　to　be　afraid　it　has
suffered　in　his　absence。〃

〃I'm　afraid　it　has；〃　said　Ellen；　and　then　remained　silent。

〃There！〃　　the　young　man　broke　out；　pointing　seaward。　　〃That's　rather　a
fine　one。　　Doesn't　that　realize　your　idea　of　something　mountains　high？　
Unless　your　mountains　are　very　high　in　Ohio！〃

〃It　is　grand。　　And　the　gulf　between！　　But　we　haven't　any　in　our　part。　
It's　all　level。　　Do　you　believe　the　tenth　wave　is　larger　than　the　rest？〃

〃Why；　the　difficulty　is　to　know　which　the　tenth　wave　is；　or　when　to　begin
counting。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　girl；　and　she　added；　vaguely：　〃I　suppose　it's　like
everything　else　in　that。　　We　have　to　make…believe　before　we　can　believe
anything。〃

〃Something　like　an　hypothesis　certainly　seems　necessary；〃　Breckon
assented；　with　a　smile　for　the　gravity　of　their　discourse。　　〃We　shouldn't
have　the　atomic　theory　without　it。〃　　She　did　not　say　anything；　and　he
decided　that　the　atomic　theory　was　beyond　the　range　of　her　reading。
He　tried　to　be　more　concrete。　　〃We　have　to　make…believe　in　ourselves
before　we　can　believe；　don't　we？　　And　then　we　sometimes　find　we　are
wrong！〃　　He　laughed；　but　she　asked；　with　tragical　seriousness：

〃And　what　ought　you　to　do　when　you　find　out　you　are　mistaken　in
yourself？〃

〃That's　what　I'm　trying　to　decide；〃　he　replied。　　〃Sometimes　I　feel　like
renouncing　myself　altogether；　but　usually　I　give　myself　another　chance。　
I　dare　say　if　I　hadn't　been　so　forbearing　I　might　have　agreed　with　your
sister　about　my　unfitness　for　the　ministry。〃

〃With　Lottie？〃

〃She　thinks　I　laugh　too　much！〃

〃I　don't　see　why　a　minister　shouldn't　laugh　if　he　feels　like　it。　　And　if
there's　something　to　laugh　at。〃

〃Ah；　that's　just　the　point！　　Is　there　ever　anything　to　laugh　at？　　If　we
looked　closely　enough　at　things；　oughtn't　we　rather　to　cry？〃　　He　laughed
in　retreat　from　the　serious　proposition。　　〃But　it　wouldn't　do　to　try
making　each　other　cry　instead　of　laugh；　would　it？　　I　suppose　your　sister
would　rather　have　me　cry。〃

〃I　don't　believe　Lottie　thought　much　about　it；〃　said　Ellen；　and　at　this
point　Mr。　Breckon　yielded　to　an　impulse。

〃I　should　think　I　had　really　been　of　some　use　if　I　had　made　you　laugh；
Miss　Kenton。〃

〃Me？〃

〃You　look　as　if　you　laughed　with　your　whole　heart　when　you　did　laugh。〃

She　glanced　about；　and　Breckon　decided　that　she　had　found　him　too
personal。　　〃I　wonder　if　I　could　walk；　with　the　ship　tipping　so？〃　she
asked。

〃Well；　not　far；〃　said　Breckon；　with　a　provisional　smile；　and　then　he　was
frightened　from　his　irony　by　her　flinging　aside　her　wraps　and　starting　to
her　feet。　　Before　he　could　scramble　to　his　own；　she　had　slid　down　the
reeling　promenade　half　to　the　guard；　over　which　she　seemed　about　to
plunge。　　He　hurled　himself　after　her；　he　could　not　have　done　otherwise；
and　it　was　as　much　in　a　wild　clutch　for　support　as　in　a　purpose　to　save
her　that　he　caught　her　in　his　arms　and　braced　himself　against　the　ship's
slant。　　〃Where　are　you　going？　　What　are　you　trying　to　do？〃　　he　shouted。

〃I　wanted　to　go　down…stairs；〃　she　protested；　clinging　to　him。

〃You　were　nearer　going　overboard；〃　he　retorted。　　〃You　shouldn't　have
tried。〃　He　had　not　fully　formulated　his　reproach　when　the　ship　righted
herself　with　a　counter…roll　and　plunge；　and　they　were　swung　staggering
back　together　against　the　bulkhead。　　The　door　of　the　gangway　was　within
reach；　and　Breckon　laid　hold　of　the　rail　beside　it　and　put　the　girl
within。　　〃Are　you　hurt？〃　he　asked。

〃No；　no；　I'm　not　hurt；〃　she　panted；　sinking　on　the　cushioned　benching
where　usually　rows　of　semi…sea…sick　people　were　lying。

〃I　thought　you　might　have　been　bruised　against　the　bulkhead；〃　he　said。　
〃Are　you　sure　you're　not　hurt　that　I　can't　get　you　anything？　　From　the
steward；　I　mean？〃

〃Only　help　me　down…stairs；〃　she　answered。　　〃I'm　perfectly　well；〃　and
Breckon　was　so　willing　on　these　terms　to　close　the　incident　that　he　was
not　aware　of　the　bruise　on　his　own　arm；　which　afterwards　declared　itself
in　several　primitive　colors。　　〃Don't　tell　them；〃　she　added。　　〃I　want　to
come　up　again。〃

〃Why；　certainly　not；〃　he　consented；　but　Boyne　Kenton；　who　had　been　an
involuntary　witness　of　the　fact　from　a　point　on　the　forward　promenade；
where　he　had　stationed　himself　to　study　the　habits　of　the　stormy　petrel
at　a　moment　so　favorable　to　the　acquaintance　of　the　petrel　（having　left
a　seasick　bed　for　the　purpose）；　was　of　another　mind。　　He　had　been
alarmed；　and；　as　it　appeared　in　the　private　interview　which　he　demanded
of　his　mother；　he　had　been　scandalized。

〃It　is　bad　enough　the　way　Lottie　is　always　going　on　with　fellows。　　And
now；　if　Ellen　is　going　to　begin！〃

〃　But；　Boyne；　child；〃　Mrs。　Kenton　argued；　in　an　equilibrium　between　the
wish　to　laugh　at　her　son　and　the　wish　to　box　his　ears；　〃how　could　she
help　his　catching　her　if　he　was　to　save　her　from　pitching　overboard？〃

〃That's　just　it！　　He　will　always　think　that　she　did　it　just　so　he　would
have　to　catch　her。〃

〃I　don't　believe　any　one　would　think　that　of　Ellen；〃　said　Mrs。　Kenton；
gravely。

〃Momma！　　You　don't　know　what　these　Eastern　fellows　are。　　There　are　so　few
of　them　that　they're　used　to　having　girls　throw　themselves　at　them；　and
they　will　think　anything；　ministers　and　all。　　You　ought　to　talk　to　Ellen；
and　caution　her。　　Of　course；　she　isn't　like　Lottie；　but　if　Lottie's　been
behaving　her　way　with　Mr。　Breckon；　he　must　suppose　the　rest　of　the　family
is　like　her。〃

〃Boyne；〃　said　his　mother；　provisionally；　〃what　sort　of　person　is　Mr。
Breckon？〃

〃Well；　I　think　he's　kind　of　frivolous。〃

〃Do　you；　Boyne？〃

〃I　don't　suppose　he　means　any　harm　by　it；　but　I　don't　like　to　see　a
minister　laugh　so　much。　　I　can't　hardly　get　him　to　talk　seriously　about
anything。　　And　I　just　know　he　makes　fun　of　Lottie。　　I　don't　mean　that　he
always　makes　fun　with　me。　　He　didn't　that　night　at　the　vaudeville；　where
I　first　saw　him。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃Don't　you　remember？　　I　told　you　about　it　last　winter。〃

〃And　was　Mr。　Breckon　that　gentleman？〃

〃Yes；　but　he　didn't　know　who　I　was　when　we　met　here。〃

〃Well；　upon　my　word；　Boyne；　I　think　you　might　have　told　us　before；〃　said
his　mother；　in　not　very　definite　vexation。　　〃Go　along；　now！〃

Boyne　stood　talking　to　his　mother；　with　his　hands；　which　he　had　not　grown
to；　largely　planted　on　the　jambs　of　her　state…room　door。　　She　was　keeping
her　berth；　not　so　much　because　she　was　sea…sick　as　because　it　was　the
safest　place　in　the　unsteady　ship　to　be　in。　　〃Do　you　want　me　to　send
Ellen　to　you！〃

〃I　will　attend　to　Ellen；　Boyne；〃　his　mother　snubbed　him。　　〃How　is
Lottie？〃

〃I　can't　tell　whether　she's　sick　or　not。　　I　went　to　see　about　her　and　she
motioned　me　away；　and　fairly　screamed　when　I　told　her　she　ought　to　keep
out　in　the　air。　　Well；　I　must　be　going　up　again　myself；　or〃

Before　lunch；　Boyne　had　experienced　the　alternative　which　he　did　not
express；　although　his　theory　and　practice　of　keeping　in　the　open　air
ought　to　have　rendered　him　immune。　　Breckon　saw　his　shock　of　hair；　and
his　large　eyes；　like　Ellen's　in　their　present　gloom；　looking　out　of　it　on
the　pillow　of　the　upper　berth；　when　he　went　to　their　room　to　freshen
himself　for　the　luncheon；　and　found　Boyne　averse　even　to　serious
conversation：　He　went　to　lunch　without　him。　　None　of　the　Kentons　were　at
table；　and　he　had　made　up　his　mind　to　lunch　alone　when　Ellen　appeared；
and　came　wavering　down　the　aisle　to　the　table。　　He　stood　up　to　help　her；
but　seeing　how　securely　she　stayed　herself　from　chair　to　chair　he　sank
down　again。

〃Poppy　is　sick；　too；　now；〃　she　replied；　as　if　to　account　for　being　alone。

〃And　you're　none　the　worse　for　your　little　promenade？〃　　The　steward　came
to　Breckon's　left　shoulder　with　a　dish；　and　after　an　effort　to　serve
himself　from　it　he　said；　with　a　slight　gasp；　〃The　other　side；　please。〃　
Ellen　looked　at　him；　but　did　not　speak；　and　he　made　haste　to　say：　〃The
doctor　goes　so　far　as　to　admit　that　its　half　a　gale。　　I　don't　know　just
what　measure　the　first　officer　would　have　for　it。　　But　I　congratulate　you
on　a　very　typical　little　storm；　Miss　Kenton；　perfectly　safe；　but　very
decided。　　A　great　many　people　cross　the　Atlantic　without　anything　half　as
satisfactory。　　There　is　either　too　much　or　too　little　of　this　sort　of
thing。〃　　He　went　on　talking　about　the　weather；　and　had　got　such　a
distance　from　the　point　of　beginning　that　he　had　cause　to　repent　being
brought　back　to　it　when　she　asked：

〃Did　the　doctor　think；　you　were　hurt？〃

〃Well；　perhaps　I　ought　to　be　more　ashamed　than　I　am；〃　said　Breckon。
〃But　I　thought　I　had　better　make　sure。　　And　it's　only　a　bruise〃

〃Won't　you　let　ME　help　you！〃　she　asked；　as　another　dish　intervened　at　his
right。　　〃I　hurt　you。〃

Breckon　laughed　at　her　solemn　face　and　voice。　　〃If　you'll　exonerate
yourself　first；〃　he　answered：　〃I　couldn't　touch　a　morsel　that　conveyed
confession　of　the　least　culpability　on　your　part。　　Do　you　consent？
Otherwise；　I　pass　this　dish。　　And　really　I　want　some！〃

〃Well；〃　she　sadly　consented；　and　he　allowed　her　to　serve　his　plate。

〃More　yet；　please；〃　he　said。　　〃A　lot！〃

〃Is　that　enough？〃

〃Well；　for　the　first　helping。　　And　don't　offer　to　cut　it　up　for　me！　　My
proud　spirit　draws　the　line　at　cutting　up。　　Besides；　a　fork　will　do　the
work　with　goulash。〃

〃Is　that　what　it　is？〃　　she　asked；　but　not　apparently　because　she　cared　to
know。

〃Unless　you　prefer　to　naturalize　it　as　stew。　　It　seems　to　have　come　in
with　the　Hungarian　bands。　　I　suppose　you　have　them　in〃

〃Tuskingum？　　No；　it　is　too　small。　　But　I　heard　them　at　a　restaurant　in
New　York　where　my　brother　took　us。〃

〃In　the　spirit　of　scientific　investigation？　　It's　strange　how　a　common
principle　seems　to　pervade　both　the　Hungarian　music　and　cookingthe　same
wandering　airs　and　flavorswild；　vague；　lawless　harmonies　in　both。　　Did
you　notice　it？〃

Ellen　shook　her　head。　　The　look　of　gloom　which　seemed　to　Breckon　habitual
in　it　came　back　into　her　face；　and　he　had　a　fantastic　temptation　to　see
how　far　he　could　go　with　her　sad　consciousness　before　she　should　be　aware
that　he　was　experimenting　upon　it。　　He　put　this　temptation