the kentons-第18章

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〃That　is　what　we　say；〃　the　girl　pursued。　　〃But　if　some　one　had　injured
youabused　your　confidence；　andinsulted　you；　what　would　you　do？〃

〃I'm　not　sure　that　I　understand；〃　Breckon　began。　　The　inquiry　was
superficially　impersonal；　but　he　reflected　that　women　are　never
impersonal；　or　the　sons　of　women；　for　that　matter；　and　he　suspected　an
intimate　ground。　　His　suspicions　were　confirmed　when　Miss　Kenton　said：
〃It　seems　easy　enough　to　forgive　anything　that's　done　to　yourself；　but　if
it's　done　to　some　one　else；　too；　have　you　the　rightisn't　it　wrong　to
let　it　go？〃

〃You　think　the　question　of　justice　might　come　in　then？　　Perhaps　it　ought。　
But　what　is　justice？　　And　where　does　your　duty　begin　to　be　divided？〃
He　saw　her　following　him　with　alarming　intensity；　and　he　shrank　from　the
responsibility　before　him。　　What　application　might　not　she　make　of　his
words　in　the　case；　whatever　it　was；　which　he　chose　not　to　imagine？
〃To　tell　you　the　truth；　Miss　Kenton；　I'm　not　very　clear　on　that　point
I'm　not　sure　that　I'm　disinterested。〃

〃Disinterested？〃

〃Yes；　you　know　that　I　abused　your　confidence　at　luncheon；　and　until　I
know　whether　the　wrong　involved　any　one　else〃　He　looked　at　her　with
hovering　laughter　in　his　eyes　which　took　wing　at　the　reproach　in　hers。　
〃But　if　we　are　to　be　serious〃

〃Oh　no；〃　she　said；　〃it　isn't　a　serious　matter。〃　　But　in　the　helplessness
of　her　sincerity　she　could　not　carry　it　off　lightly；　or　hide　from　him
that　she　was　disappointed。

He　tried　to　make　talk　about　other　things。　　She　responded　vaguely；　and
when　she　had　given　herself　time　she　said　she　believed　she　would　go　to
Lottie；　she　was　quite　sure　she　could　get　down　the　stairs　alone。　　He
pursued　her　anxiously；　politely；　and　at　the　head　of　her　corridor　took
leave　of　her　with　a　distinct　sense　of　having　merited　his　dismissal。

〃I　see　what　you　mean；　Lottie；〃　she　said；　〃about　Mr。　Breckon。〃

Lottie　did　not　turn　her　head　on　the　pillow。　　〃Has　it　taken　you　the　whole
day　to　find　it　out？〃




XII。

The　father　and　the　mother　had　witnessed　with　tempered　satisfaction　the
interest　which　seemed　to　be　growing　up　between　Ellen　and　the　young
minister。　　By　this　time　they　had　learned　not　to　expect　too　much　of　any
turn　she　might　take；　she　reverted　to　a　mood　as　suddenly　as　she　left　it。　
They　could　not　quite　make　out　Breckon　himself；　he　was　at　least　as　great　a
puzzle　to　them　as　their　own　child　was。

〃It　seems；〃　said　Mrs。　Kenton；　in　their　first　review　of　the　affair；　after
Boyne　had　done　a　brother's　duty　in　trying　to　bring　Ellen　under　their
mother's　censure；　〃that　he　was　the　gentleman　who　discussed　the　theatre
with　Boyne　at　the　vaudeville　last　winter。　　Boyne　just　casually　mentioned
it。　　I　was　so　provoked！〃

〃I　don't　see　what　bearing　the　fact　has；〃　the　judge　remarked。

〃Why；　Boyne　liked　him　very　much　that　night；　but　now　he　seems　to　feel　very
much　as　Lottie　does　about　him。　　He　thinks　he　laughs　too　much。〃

〃I　don't　know　that　there's　much　harm　in　that；〃　said　the　judge。　　〃And　I
shouldn't　value　Boyne's　opinion　of　character　very　highly。〃

〃I　value　any　one's　intuitionsespecially　children's。〃

〃Boyne's　in　that　middle　state　where　he　isn't　quite　a　child。　　And　so　is
Lottie；　for　that　matter。〃

〃That　is　true；〃　their　mother　assented。　　〃And　we　ought　to　be　glad　of
anything　that　takes　Ellen's　mind　off　herself。　　If　I　could　only　believe
she　was　forgetting　that　wretch！〃

〃Does　she　ever　speak　of　him？〃

〃She　never　hints　of　him；　even。　　But　her　mind　may　be　full　of　him　all　the
time。〃

The　judge　laughed　impatiently。　　〃It　strikes　me　that　this　young　Mr。
Breckon　hasn't　much　advantage　of　Ellen　in　what　Lottie　calls　closeness！〃

〃Ellen　has　always　been　very　reserved。　　It　would　have　been　better　for　her
if　she　hadn't。　　Oh；　I　scarcely　dare　to　hope　anything！　　Rufus；　I　feel　that
in　everything　of　this　kind　we　are　very　ignorant　and　inexperienced。〃

〃Inexperienced！〃　　Renton　retorted。　　〃I　don't　want　any　more　experience　of
the　kind　Ellen　has　given　us。〃

〃I　don't　mean　that。　　I　meanthis　Mr。　Breckon。　　I　can't　tell　what
attracts　him　in　the　child。　　She　must　appear　very　crude　and　uncultivated
to　him。　　You　needn't　resent　it　so！　　I　know　she's　read　a　great　deal；　and
you've　made　her　think　herself　intellectualbut　the　very　simple…
heartedness　of　the　way　she　would　show　out　her　reading　would　make　such　a
young　man　see　that　she　wasn't　like　the　girls　he　was　used　to。　　They　would
hide　their　intellectuality；　if　they　had　any。　　It's　no　use　your　trying　to
fight　it　Mr。　Kenton。　　We　are　country　people；　and　he　knows　it。〃

〃Tuskingum　isn't　country！〃　the　judge　declared。

〃It　isn't　city。　　And　we　don't　know　anything　about　the　world；　any　of　us。　
Oh；　I　suppose　we　can　read　and　write！　　But　we　don't　know　the　a；　b；　c　of
the　things　he；　knows。　　He；　belongs　to　a　kind　of　societyof　people
in　New　York　that　I　had　glimpses　of　in　the　winter；　but　that　I　never
imagined　before。　　They　made　me　feel　very　belated　and　benightedas　if　I
hadn't；　read　or　thought　anything。　　They　didn't　mean　to；　but　I　couldn't
help　it；　and　they　couldn't。〃

〃Youyou've　been　frightened　out　of　your　propriety　by　what　you've　seen　in
New　York；〃　said　her　husband。

〃I've　been　frightened；　certainly。　　And　I　wish　you　had　been；　too。　　I　wish
you　wouldn't　be　so　conceited　about　Ellen。　　It　scares　me　to　see　you　so。　
Poor；　sick　thing；　her　looks　are　all　gone！　　You　must　see　that。　　And　she
doesn't　dress　like　the　girls　he's　used　to。　　I　know　we've　got　her　things
in　New　York；　but　she　doesn't　wear　them　like　a　New…Yorker。　　I　hope　she
isn't　going　in　for　MORE　unhappiness！〃

At　the　thought　of　this　the　judge's　crest　fell。　　〃Do　you　believe　she's
getting　interested　in　him？〃　he　asked；　humbly。

〃No；　no；　I　don't　say　that。　　But　promise　me　you　won't　encourage　her　in　it。　
And　don't；　for　pity's　sake；　brag　about　her　to　him。〃

〃No；　I　won't；〃　said　the　judge；　and　he　tacitly　repented　having　done　so。

The　weather　had　changed；　and　when　he　went　up　from　this　interview　with　his
wife　in　their　stateroom　he　found　a　good　many　people　strung　convalescently
along　the　promenade　on　their　steamer…chairs。　　These；　so　far　as　they　were
women；　were　of　such　sick　plainness　that　when　he　came　to　Ellen　his　heart
throbbed　with　a　glad　resentment　of　her　mother's　aspersion　of　her　health
and　beauty。　　She　looked　not　only　very　well；　and　very　pretty；　but　in　a　gay
red　cap　and　a　trig　jacket　she　looked；　to　her　father's　uncritical　eyes；
very　stylish。　　The　glow　left　his　heart　at　eight　of　the　empty　seat　beside
her。

〃Where　is　Lottie？〃　　he　asked；　though　it　was　not　Lottie's　whereabouts
that　interested　him。

〃Oh；　she's　walking　with　Mr。　Breckon　somewhere；〃　said　Ellen。

〃Then　she's　made　up　her　mind　to　tolerate　him；　has　she？〃　　the　father
asked；　more　lightly　than　he　felt。

Ellen　smiled。　　〃That　wasn't　anything　very　serious；　I　guess。　　At　any　rate；
she's　walking　with　him。〃

〃What　book　is　that？〃　　he　asked；　of　the　volume　she　was　tilting　back　and
forth　under　her　hand。

She　showed　it。　　〃One　of　his。　　He　brought　it　up　to　amuse　me；　he　said。〃

〃While　he　was　amusing　himself　with　Lottie；〃　thought　the　judge；　in　his
jealousy　for　her。　　〃It　is　going　the　same　old　way。　　Well！〃　　What　he　said
aloud　was；　〃And　is　it　amusing　you？〃

〃I　haven't　looked　at　it　yet；〃　said　the　girl。　　〃It's　amusing　enough　to
watch　the　sea。　　Oh；　poppa！　　I　never　thought　I　should　care　so　much　for
it。〃

〃And　you're　glad　we　came？〃

〃I　don't　want　to　think　about　that。　　I　just　want　to　know　that　I'm　here。〃　
She　pressed　his　arm　gently；　significantly；　where　he　sat　provisionally　in
the　chair　beside　her；　and　he　was　afraid　to　speak　lest　he　should　scare
away　the　hope　her　words　gave　him。

He　merely　said；　〃Well；　well！〃　　and　waited　for　her　to　speak　further。　　But
her　impulse　had　exhausted　itself；　as　if　her　spirit　were　like　one　of　those
weak　forms　of　life　which　spend　their　strength　in　a　quick　run　or　flight；
and　then　rest　to　gather　force　for　another。　　〃Where's　Boyne？〃　　he　asked；
after　waiting　for　her　to　speak。

〃He　was　here　a　minute　ago。　　He's　been　talking　with　some　of　the　deck
passengers　that　are　going　home　because　they　couldn't　get　on　in　America。　
Doesn't　that　seem　pitiful；　poppa？　　I　always　thought　we　had　work　enough
for　the　whole　world。〃

〃Perhaps　these　fellows　didn't　try　very　hard　to　find　it；〃　said　the　judge。

〃Perhaps；〃　she　assented。

〃I　shouldn't　want　you　to　get　to　thinking　that　it's　all　like　New　York。　
Remember　how　comfortable　everybody　is　in　Tuskingum。〃

〃Yes；〃　she　said；　sadly。　　〃How　far　off　Tuskingum　seems！〃

〃Well；　don't　forget　about　it；　and　remember　that　wherever　life　is　simplest
and　purest　and　kindest；　that　is　the　highest　civilization。〃

〃How　much　like　old　times　it　seems　to　hear　you　talk　that　way；　poppa！
I　should　think　I　was　in　the　library　at　home。　　And　I　made　you　leave　it！〃　
she　sighed。

〃Your　mother　was　glad　of　any　excuse。　　And　it　will　do　us　all　good；　if　we
take　it　in　the　right　way；〃　said　the　judge；　with　a　didactic　severity　that
did　not　hide　his　pang　from　her。

〃Poor　poppa！〃　she　said。

He　went　away；　saying　that　he　was　going　to　look　Lottie　up。　　His　simple
design　was　to　send　Lottie　to　her　mother；　so　that　Breckon　might　come　back
to　Ellen；　but　he　did　not　own　this　to　himself。

Lottie　returned　from　another　direction　with　Boyne；　and　Ellen　said；
〃Poppa's　gone　to　look　for　you。〃

〃Has　he？〃　asked　Lottie；　dropping　decisively　into　her　chair。　　〃Well；
there's　one　thing；　I　won't　call　him　poppa　any　more。〃

〃What　will　you　call　him？〃　　Boyne　demanded；　demurely。

〃I'll　call　him　father；　it　you　want　to　know；　and　I'm　going　to　call　momma；
mother。　　I'm　not　going　to　have　those　English　laughing　at　us；　and　I　won't
say　papa　and　mamma。　　Everybody　that　knows　anything　says　father　and　mother
now。〃

Boyne　kept　looking　from　one　sister　to　another　during　Lottie's
declaration；　and；　with　his　eyes　on　Ellen；　he　said；　〃It's　true；　Ellen。　
All　the　Plumptons　did。〃　　He　was　very　serious。

Ellen　smiled。　　〃I'm　too　old　to　change。　　I'd　rather　seem　queer　in　Europe
than　when　I　get　back　to　Tuskingum。〃

〃You　wouldn't　be　queer　there　a　great　while；〃　said　Lottie。　　〃They'll　all
be　doing　it　in　a　week　after　I　get　home。〃

Upon　the　encouragement　given　him　by　Ellen；　Boyne　seized　the　chance　of
being　of　the　opposition。　　〃Yes；〃　he　taunted　Lottie；　〃and　you　think
they'll　say　woman　and　man；　for　lady　and　gentleman；　I　suppose。〃

〃They　will　as　soon　as　they　know　it's　the　thing。〃

〃Well；　I　know　I　won't；〃　said　Boyne。　　〃I　won't　call　momma　a　woman。〃

〃It　doesn't　matter　what　you　do；　Boyne　dear；〃　his　sister　serenely　assured
him。

While　he　stood　searching　his　mind　for　a　suitable　retort；　a　young　man；　not
apparently　many　years　his　senior；　came　round　the　corner　of　the　music…
room；　and　put　himself　conspicuously　in　view　at　a　distance　from　the
Kentons。

〃There　he　is；　now；〃　said　Boyne。　　〃He　wants　to　be　introduced　to　Lottie。〃　
He　referred　the　question　to　Ellen；　but　Lottie　answered　for　her。

〃Then　why　don't　you　introduce　him？〃

〃Well；　I　would　if　he　was　an　American。　　But　you　can't　tell　about　these
English。〃　　　He　resumed　the　dignity　he　had　lost　in　making　the　explanation
to　Lottie；　and　ignored　her　in　turning　again　to　Ellen。　　〃What　do　you
think；　Ellen？〃

〃Oh；　don't　know　about　such　things；　Boyne；〃　she　said；　shrinking　from　the
responsibility。

〃Well；　upon　my　word！〃　cried　Lottie。　　〃If　Ellen　can　talk　by　the　hour　with
that　pre