the kentons-第21章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃All　the　more　reason　why　he　can't　really　care　for　Ellen。　　Now　see　here；
Sarah！　　You　know　I　don't　interfere　with　you　and　the　children；　but　I'm
afraid　you're　in　a　craze　about　this　young　fellow。　　He's　got　these　friends
of　his　who　have　just　turned　up；　and　we'll　wait　and　see　what　he　does　with
them。　　I　guess　he　appreciates　the　young　lady　as　much　as　he　does　Ellen。〃

Mrs。　Kenton's　heart　went　down。　　〃She　doesn't　compare　with　Ellen！〃　she
piteously　declared。

〃That's　what　we　think。　　He　may　think　differently。〃

Mrs。　Kenton　was　silenced；　but　all　the　more　she　was　determined　to　make
sure　that　Mr。　Breckon　was　not　interested　in　Miss　Rasmith　in　any　measure
or　manner　detrimental　to　Ellen。　　As　for　Miss　Rasmith　herself；　Mrs。　Kenton
would　have　had　greater　reason　to　be　anxious　about　her　behavior　with　Boyne
than　Mr。　Breckon。　　From　the　moment　that　the　minister　had　made　his　two
groups　of　friends　acquainted；　the　young　lady　had　fixed　upon　Boyne　as　that
member　of　the　Kenton　group　who　could　best　repay　a　more　intimate
friendship。　　She　was　polite　to　them　all；　but　to　Boyne　she　was　flattering；
and　he　was　too　little　used　to　deference　from　ladies　ten　years　his　senior
not　to　be　very　sensible　of　her　worth　in　offering　it。　　To　be　unremittingly
treated　as　a　grown…up　person　was　an　experience　so　dazzling　that　his
vision　was　blinded　to　any　possibilities　in　the　behavior　that　formed　it；
and　before　the　day　ended　Boyne　had　possessed　Miss　Rasmith　of　all　that　it
was　important　for　any　fellow…being　to　know　of　his　character　and　history。　
He　opened　his　heart　to　eyes　that　had　looked　into　others　before　his；　less
for　the　sake　of　exploiting　than　of　informing　himself。　　In　the　rare
intelligence　of　Miss　Rasmith　he　had　found　that　serious　patience　with　his
problems　which　no　one　else；　not　Ellen　herself；　had　shown；　and　after
trying　her　sincerity　the　greater　part　of　the　day　he　put　it　to　the　supreme
test；　one　evening；　with　a　book　which　he　had　been　reading。　　Boyne's
literature　was　largely　entomological　and　zoological；　but　this　was　a　work
of　fiction　treating　of　the　fortunes　of　a　young　American　adventurer；　who
had　turned　his　military　education　to　account　in　the　service　of　a　German
princess。　　Her　Highness's　dominions　were　not　in　any　map　of　Europe；　and
perhaps　it　was　her　condition　of　political　incognito　that　rendered　her　the
more　fittingly　the　prey　of　a　passion　for　the　American　head　of　her　armies。　
Boyne's　belief　was　that　this　character　veiled　a　real　identity；　and　he
wished　to　submit　to　Miss　Rasmith　the　question　whether　in　the　exclusive
circles　of　New　York　society　any　young　millionaire　was　known　to　have　taken
service　abroad　after　leaving　west　Point。　　He　put　it　in　the　form　of　a
scoffing　incredulity　which　it　was　a　comfort　to　have　her　take　as　if　almost
hurt　by　his　doubt。　　She　said　that　such　a　thing　might　very　well　be；　and
with　rich　American　girls　marrying　all　sorts　of　titles　abroad；　it　was　not
impossible　for　some　brilliant　young　fellow　to　make　his　way　to　the　steps
of　a　throne。　　Boyne　declared　that　she　was　laughing　at　him；　and　she
protested　that　it　was　the　last　thing　she　should　think　of　doing；　she　was
too　much　afraid　of　him。　　Then　he　began　to　argue　against　the　case　supposed
in　the　romance；　he　proved　from　the　book　itself　that　the　thing　could　not
happen；　such　a　princess　would　not　be　allowed　to　marry　the　American；　no
matter　how　rich　he　was。　　She　owned　that　she　had　not　heard　of　just　such　an
instance；　and　he　might　think　her　very　romantic；　and　perhaps　she　was；　but
if　the　princess　was　an　absolute　princess；　such　as　she　was　shown　in　that
story；　she　held　that　no　power　on　earth　could　keep　her　from　marrying　the
young　American。　　For　herself　she　did　not　see；　though；　how　the　princess
could　be　in　love　with　that　type　of　American。　　If　she　had　been　in　the
princess's　place　she　should　have　fancied　something　quite　different。　　She
made　Boyne　agree　with　her　that　Eastern　Americans　were　all；　more　or　less；
Europeanized；　and　it　stood　to　reason；　she　held；　that　a　European　princess
would　want　something　as　un…European　as　possible　if　she　was　falling　in
love　to　please　herself。　　They　had　some　contention　upon　the　point　that　the
princess　would　want　a　Western　American；　and　then　Miss　Rasmith；　with　a
delicate　audacity；　painted　an　heroic　portrait　of　Boyne　himself　which　he
could　not　recognize　openly　enough　to　disown；　but　he　perceived
resemblances　in　it　which　went　to　his　head　when　she　demurely　rose；　with　a
soft　〃Good…night；　Mr。　Kenton。　　I　suppose　I　mustn't　call　you　Boyne？〃

〃Oh　yes；　do！〃　　he　entreated。　　〃I'm…I'm　not　grown　up　yet；　you　know。〃

〃Then　it　will　be　safe；〃　she　sighed。　　〃But　I　should　never　have　thought　of
that。　　I　had　got　so　absorbed　in　our　argument。　　You　are　so　logical；　Mr。
KentonBoyne；　I　meanthank　you。　　You　must　get　it　from　your　father。　　How
lovely　your　sister　is！〃

〃Ellen？〃

〃Well；　no。　　I　meant　the　other　one。　　But　Miss　Kenton　is　beautiful；　too。　
You　must　be　so　happy　together；　all　of　you。〃　　She　added；　with　a　rueful
smile；　〃There's　only　one　of　me！　　Good…night。〃

Boyne　did　not　know　whether　he　ought　not　in　humanity；　if　not　gallantry；　to
say　he　would　be　a　brother　to　her；　but　while　he　stood　considering；　she　put
out　a　hand　to　him　so　covered　with　rings　that　he　was　afraid　she　had　hurt
herself　in　pressing　his　so　hard；　and　had　left　him　before　he　could　decide。

Lottie；　walking　the　deck；　had　not　thought　of　bidding　Mr。　Pogis　good…
night。　　She　had　asked　him　half　a　dozen　times　how　late　it　was；　and　when　he
answered；　had　said　as　often　that　she　knew　better；　and　she　was　going　below
in　another　minute。　　But　she　stayed；　and　the　flow　of　her　conversation
supplied　him　with　occasion　for　the　remarks　of　which　he　seldom　varied　the
formula。　　When　she　said　something　too　audacious　for　silent　emotion；　he
called　out；　〃Oh；　I　say！〃　　If　she　advanced　an　opinion　too　obviously
acceptable；　or　asked　a　question　upon　some　point　where　it　seemed　to　him
there　could　not　be　two　minds；　he　was　ready　with　the　ironical　note；　〃Well；
rather！〃　　At　times　she　pressed　her　studies　of　his　character　and　her
observations　on　his　manner　and　appearance　so　far　that　he　was　forced　to
protest；　〃You　are　so　personal！〃　　But　these　moments　were　rare；　for　the
most　part；　〃Oh　I　say！〃　and　　〃Well；　rather！〃　　perfectly　covered　the
ground。　　He　did　not　generally　mind　her　parody　of　his　poverty　of　phrase；
but　once；　after　she　had　repeated　〃Well　rather！〃　　and　〃Oh；　I　say！〃　
steadily　at　everything　he　said　for　the　whole　round　of　the　promenade　they
were　making；　he　intimated　that　there　were　occasions　when；　in　his　belief；
a　woman's　abuse　of　the　freedom　generously　allowed　her　sex　passed　the
point　of　words。

〃And　when　it　passes　the　point　of　words〃　she　taunted　him；　〃what　do　you
do？〃

〃You　will　see；〃　he　said；　〃if　it　ever　does；〃　and　Lottie　felt　justified　by
her　inference　that　he　was　threatening　to　kiss　her；　in　answering：

〃And　if　I　ever　SEE；　I　will　box　your　ears。〃

〃Oh；　I　say！〃　　he　retorted。　　〃I　should　like　to　have　you　try。〃

He　had　ideas　of　the　rightful　mastery　of　a　man　in　all　things；　which　she
promptly　pronounced　brutal；　and　when　he　declared　that　his　father's
conduct　towards　his　wife　and　children　was　based　upon　these　ideas；　she
affirmed　the　superiority　of　her　own　father's　principles　and　behavior。　
Mr。　Pogis　was　too　declared　an　admirer　of　Judge　Kenton　to　question　his
motives　or　method　in　anything；　and　he　could　only　generalize；　〃The
Americans　spoil　their　women。〃

〃Well；　their　women　are　worth　it；〃　said　Lottie；　and　after　allowing　the
paradox　time　to　penetrate　his　intelligence；　he　cried　out；　in　a　glad
transport：

〃Oh；　I　SAY！〃

At　the　moment　Boyne's　intellectual　seance　with　Miss　Rasmith　was　coming　to
an　end。　　Lottie　had　tacitly　invited　Mr。　Pogis　to　prolong　the　comparison
of　English　and　American　family　life　by　stopping　in　front　of　a　couple　of
steamer…chairs；　and　confessing　that　she　was　tired　to　death。　　They　sat
down；　and　he　told　her　about　his　mother；　whom；　although　his　father's
subordinate；　he　seemed　to　be　rather　fonder　of。　　He　had　some　elder
brothers；　most　of　them　in　the　colonies；　and　he　had　himself　been　out　to
America　looking　at　something　his　father　had　found　for　him　in　Buffalo。

〃You　ought　to　come　to　Tuskingum；〃　said　Lottie。

〃Is　that　a　large　place？〃　　Mr。　Pogis　asked。　　〃As　large　as　Buffalo？〃

〃Well；　no；〃　Lottie　admitted。　　〃But　it's　a　growing　place。　　And　we　have　the
best　kind　of　times。〃

〃What　kind？〃　　The　young　man　easily　consented　to　turn　the　commercial　into
a　social　inquiry。

〃Oh；　picnics；　and　river　parties；　and　buggy…rides；　and　dances。〃

〃I'm　keen　on　dancing；〃　said　Mr。　Pogis。　　〃I　hope　they'll　give　us　a　dance
on　board。　　Will　you　put　me　down　for　the　first　dance？〃

〃I　don't　care。　　Will　you　send　me　some　flowers？　　The　steward　must　have
some　left　in　the　refrigerator。〃

〃Well；　rather！　　I'll　send　you　a　spray；　if　he's　got　enough。〃

〃A　spray？　　What's　a　spray？〃

〃Oh；　I　say！　　My　sister　always　wears　one。　　It's　a　long　chain　of　flowers
reachin'　from　your　shoulder　diagonally　down　to　your　waist。〃

Does　your　sister　always　have　her　sprays　sent　to　her？〃

〃Well；　rather！　　Don't　they　send　flowers　to　girls　for　dances　in　the
States？〃

〃Well；　rather！　　Didn't　I　just　ask　you？〃

This　was　very　true；　and　after　a　moment　of　baffle　Mr。　Pogis　said；　in
generalization；　〃If　you　go　with　a　young　lady　in　a　party　to　the　theatre
you　send　her　a　box　of　chocolates。〃

〃Only　when　you　go　to　theatre！　　I　couldn't　get　enough；　then；　unless　you
asked　me　every　night；〃　said　Lottie；　and　while　Mr。　Pogis　was　trying　to
choose　between　〃Oh；　I　say！〃　　and　something　specific；　like；　〃I　should　like
to　ask　you　every　night；〃　she　added；　〃And　what　would　happen　if　you　sent　a
girl　a　spray　for　the　theatre　and　chocolates　for　a　dance？　　Wouldn't　it　jar
her？〃

Now；　indeed；　there　was　nothing　for　him　but　to　answer；　〃Oh；　I　say！〃

〃Well；　say；　then！　　Here　comes　Boyne；　and　I　must　go。　　Well；　Boyne；〃　she
called；　from　the　dark　nook　where　she　sat；　to　her　brother　as　he　stumbled
near；　with　his　eyes　to　the　stars；　〃has　the　old　lady　retired？〃

He　gave　himself　away　finely。　　〃What　old　lady！〃

〃Well；　maybe　at　your　age　you　don't　consider　her　very　old。　　But　I　don't
think　a　boy　ought　to　sit　up　mooning　at　his　grandmother　all　night。　　I　know
Miss　Rasmith's　no　relation；　if　that's　what　you're　going　to　say！〃

〃Oh；　I　say！〃　　Mr。　Pogis　chuckled。　　〃You　are　so　personal。〃

〃Well；　rather！〃　　said　Lottie；　punishing　his　presumption。　　〃But　I　don't
think　it's　nice　for　a　kid；　even　if　she　isn't。〃

〃Kid！〃　　Boyne　ground；　through　his　clenched　teeth。

By　this　time　Lottie　was　up　out　of　her　chair　and　beyond　repartee　in　her
flight　down　the　gangway　stairs。　　She　left　the　two　youngsters　confronted。

〃What　do　you　say　to　a　lemon…squash？〃　　asked　Mr。　Pogis；　respecting　his
friend's　wounded　dignity；　and　ignoring　Lottie　and　her　offence。

〃I　don't　care　if　I　do；〃　said　Boyne　in　gloomy　acquiescence。




XV。

Few　witnesses　of　the　fact　that　Julia　Rasmith　and　her　mother　had　found
themselves　on　the　same　steamer　with　the　Rev。　Hugh　Breckon　would　have　been
of　such　a　simple　mind　as　to　think　they　were　there　by　accident；　if　they
had　also　been　witnesses　of　their　earlier　history。　　The　ladies　could　have
urged　that　in　returning　from　California　only　a　few　days　before　the　Amstel
sailed；　and　getting　a　state…room　which　had　been　unexpectedly　given　up；
they　had　some　claim　to　a　charitable　in