the kentons-第22章

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they　had　some　claim　to　a　charitable　interpretation　of　their　behavior；　but
this　plea　could　not　have　availed　them　with　any　connoisseur　of　women。　
Besides；　it　had　been　a　matter　of　notoriety　among　such　of　Mr。　Breckon's
variegated　congregation　as　knew　one　another　that　Mrs。　Rasmith　had　set　her
heart　on　him；　it　Julia　had　not　set　her　cap　for　him。　　In　that　pied　flock；
where　every　shade　and　dapple　of　doubt；　from　heterodox　Jew　to　agnostic
Christian；　foregathered；　as　it　has　been　said；　in　the　misgiving　of　a
blessed　immortality；　the　devotion　of　Mrs。　Rasmith　to　the　minister　had
been　almost　a　scandal。　　Nothing　had　saved　the　appearance　from　this
character　but　Mr。　Breckon's　open　acceptance　of　her　flatteries　and
hospitalities；　this　was　so　frank；　and　the　behavior　of　Julia　herself　so
judicious　under　the　circumstances；　that　envy　and　virtue　were；　if　not
equally　silenced；　equally　baffled。　　So　far　from　pretending　not　to　see　her
mother's　manoeuvres；　Julia　invited　public　recognition　of　them；　in　the　way
of　joking；　which　she　kept　within　the　limits　of　filial　fondness；　she　made
fun　of　her　mother's　infatuation　to　Breckon　himself；　and　warned　him
against　the　moment　when　her　wiles　might　be　too　much　for　him。　　Before
other　people　she　did　not　hesitate　to　save　him　from　her　mother；　so　that
even　those　who　believed　her　in　the　conspiracy　owned　that　no　girl　could
have　managed　with　more　cleverness　in　a　situation　where　not　every　one
would　have　refused　to　be　placed。　　In　this　situation　Julia　Rasmith　had　the
service　of　a　very　clear　head；　and　as　was　believed　by　some；　a　cool　heart；
if　she　and　her　mother　had　joint　designs　upon　the　minister；　hers　was　the
ambition；　and　her　mother's　the　affection　that　prompted　them。　　She　was　a
long；　undulant　girl；　of　a　mixed　blondness　that　left　you　in　doubt；　after
you　had　left　her；　whether　her　hair　or　her　complexion　were　not　of　one
tint；　but　her　features　were　good；　and　there　could　be　no　question　of　her
captivating　laugh；　and　her　charming　mouth；　which　she　was　always　pulling
down　with　demure　irony。　　She　was　like　her　mother　in　her　looks；　but　her
indolent；　droning　temperament　must　have　been　from　her　father；　whose
memory　was　lost　in　that　antiquity　which　swallows　up　the　record　of　so　many
widows'　husbands；　and　who　could　not　have　left　her　what　was　left　of　her
mother's　money；　for　none　of　it　had　ever　been　his。　　It　was　still　her
mother's；　and　it　was　supposed　to　be　the　daughter's　chief　attraction。　
There　must；　therefore；　have　been　a　good　deal　of　it；　for　those　who　were
harshest　with　the　minister　did　not　believe　that　a　little　money　would
attract　him。　　Not　that　they　really　thought　him　mercenary；　some　of　his
people　considered　him　gay　to　the　verge　of　triviality；　but　there　were　none
that　accused　him　of　insincerity。　　They　would　have　liked　a　little　more
seriousness　in　him；　especially　when　they　had　not　much　of　their　own；　and
would　have　had　him　make　up　in　severity　of　behavior　for　what　he　lacked；
and　what　they　wished　him　to　lack；　in　austerity　of　doctrine。

The　Amstel　had　lost　so　much　time　in　the　rough　weather　of　her　first　days
out　that　she　could　not　make　it　up　with　her　old…fashioned　single　screw。　
She　was　at　best　a　ten…day　boat；　counting　from　Sandy　Hook　to　Boulogne；　and
she　had　not　been　four　days　out　when　she　promised　to　break　her　record　for
slowness。　　Three　days　later　Miss　Rasmith　said　to　Breckon；　as　he　took　the
chair　which　her　mother　agilely　abandoned　to　him　beside　her：　〃The　head
steward　says　it　will　be　a　twelve…day　trip；　end　our　bedroom　steward　thinks
more。　　What　is　the　consensus　of　opinion　in　the　smoking…room？　　Where　are
you　going；　mother？　　Are　you　planning　to　leave　Mr。　Breckon　and　me　alone
again？　　It　isn't　necessary。　　We　couldn't　get　away　from　each　other　if　we
tried；　and　all　we　ask　　Well；　I　suppose　age　must　he　indulged　in　its
little　fancies；〃　she　called　after　Mrs。　Rasmith。

Breckon　took　up　the　question　she　had　asked　him。　　〃The　odds　are　so　heavily
in　favor　of　a　fifteen…days'　run　that　there　are　no　takers。〃

〃Now　you　are　joking　again；〃　she　said。　　〃I　thought　a　sea…voyage　might　make
you　serious。〃

〃It　has　been　tried　before。　　Besides；　it's　you　that　I　want　to　be　serious。〃

〃What　about？　　Besides；　I　doubt　it。〃

〃About　Boyne。〃

〃Oh！　　I　thought　you　were　going　to　say　some　one　else。〃

〃No；　I　think　that　is　very　well　settled。〃

〃You'll　never　persuade　my　mother；〃　said　Miss　Rasmith；　with　a　low；
comfortable　laugh。

〃But　if　you　are　satisfied〃

〃She　will　have　to　resign　herself？　　Well；　perhaps。　　But　why　do　you　wish　me
to　be　serious　about　Boyne？〃

〃I　have　no　doubt　he　amuses　you。　　But　that　doesn't　seem　a　very　good　reason
why　you　should　amuse　yourself　with　him。〃

〃No？　　Why　not？〃

〃Well；　because　the　poor　boy　is　in　earnest；　and　you're　not　exactly
contemporaries。〃

〃Why；　how　old　is　Boyne？〃　　she　asked；　with　affected　surprise。

〃About　fifteen；　I　think；〃　said　Breckon；　gravely。

〃And　I'm　but　a　very　few　months　past　thirty。　　I　don't　see　the　great
disparity。　　But　he　is　merely　a　brother　to　mean　elder　brotherand　he
gives　me　the　best　kind　of　advice。〃

〃I　dare　say　you　need　it；　but　all　the　same；　I　am　afraid　you　are　putting
ideas　into　his　head。〃

〃Well；　if　he　began　it？　　If　he　put　them　in　mine　first？〃

She　was　evidently　willing　that　he　should　go　further；　and　create　the
common　ground　between　them　that　grows　up　when　one　gives　a　reproof　and　the
other　accepts　it；　but　Breckon；　whether　he　thought　that　he　had　now　done
his　duty；　and　need　say　no　more；　or　because　he　was　vexed　with　her；　left
the　subject。

〃Mrs。　Rasmith　says　you　are　going　to　Switzerland　for　the　rest　of　the
summer。〃

〃Yes；　to　Montreux。　　Are　you　going　to　spend　it　in　Paris？〃

〃I'm　going　to　Paris　to　see。　　I　have　had　some　thoughts　of　Etretat；　I　have
cousins　there。〃

〃I　wish　that　I　could　go　to　the　sea…side。　　But　this　happens　to　be　one　of
the　summers　when　nothing　but　mountains　can　save　my　mother's　life。　　Shall
you　get　down　to　Rome　before　you　go　back？〃

〃I　don't　know。　　If　I　sail　from　Naples　I　shall　probably　pass　through
Rome。〃

〃You　had　better　stop　off。　　We　shall　be　there　in　November；　and　they　say
Rome　is　worth　seeing；〃　she　laughed　demurely。　　〃That　is　what　Boyne
understands。　　He's　promised　to　use　his　influence　with　his　family　to　let
him　run　down　to　see　us　there；　if　he　can't　get　them　all　to　come。　　You
might　offer　to　personally　conduct　them。〃

〃Yes。〃　　said　Breckon；　with　the　effect　of　cloture。　　〃Have　you　made　many
acquaintances　an　board？〃

〃What！　　Two　lone　women？　　You　haven't　introduced　us　to　any　but　the
Kentons。　　But　I　dare　say　they　are　the　best。　　The　judge　is　a　dear；　and
Mrs。　Kenton　is　everything　that　is　motherly　and　matronly。　　Boyne　says　she
is　very　well　informed；　and　knows　all　about　the　reigning　families。　　If　he
decides　to　marry　into　them；　she　can　be　of　great　use　in　saving　him　from　a
mesalliance。　　I　can't　say　very　much　for　Miss　Lottie。　　Miss　Lottie　seems
to　me　distinctly　of　the　minx　type。　　But　that　poor；　pale　girl　is　adorable。　
I　wish　she　liked　me！〃

〃What　makes　you　think　she　doesn't　like　you？〃　　Breckon　asked。

〃What？　　Women　don't　require　anything　to　convince　them　that　other　women
can't　bear　them。　　They　simply　know　it。　　I　wonder　what　has　happened　to
her？〃

〃Why　do　you　think　anything　has　happened　to　her？〃

〃Why？　　Well；　girls　don't　have　that　air　of　melanholy　absence　for　nothing。　
She　is　brooding　upon　something；　you　may　be　sure。　　But　you　have　had　so
many　more　opportunities　than　I！　　Do　you　mean　that　you　haven't　suspected　a
tragical　past　far　her？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Breckon；　a　little　restively；　〃that　I　have　allowed
myself　to　speculate　about　her　past。〃

〃That　is；　you　oughtn't　to　have　allowed　yourself　to　do　so。　　Well；　there　I
agree　with　you。　　But　a　woman　may　do　so　without　impertinence；　and　I　am
sure　that　Miss　Kenton　has　a　story。　　I　have　watched　her；　and　her　face　has
told　me　everything　but　the　story。〃

Breckon　would　not　say　that　some　such　revelation　had　been　made　to　him；　and
in　the　absence　of　an　answer　from　him　Miss　Rasmith　asked；　〃Is　she
cultivated；　too？〃

〃Too？〃

〃Like　her　mother。〃

〃Oh！　　I　should　say　she　had　read　a　good　dial。　　And　she's　bookish；　yes；　in
a　simple…hearted　kind　of　way。〃

〃She　asks　you　if　you　have　read　'the　book　of　the　year；'　and　whether　you
don't　think　the　heroine　is　a　beautiful　character？〃

〃Not　quite　so　bad　as　that。　　But　if　you　care　to　be　serious　about　her！〃

〃Oh；　I　do！〃

〃I　doubt　it。　　Then；　I　should　say　that　she　seems　to　have　grown　up　in　a
place　where　the　interests　are　so　material　that　a　girl　who　was　disposed　to
be　thoughtful　would　be　thrown　back　upon　reading　for　her　society　more　than
in　more　intellectual　centresif　there　are　such　things。　　She　has　been　so
much　with　books　that　she　does　not　feel　odd　in　speaking　of　them　as　if　they
were　the　usual　topics　of　conversation。　　It　gives　her　a　certain
quaintness。〃

〃And　that　is　what　constitutes　her　charm？〃

〃I　didn't　know　that　we　were　speaking　of　her　charm。〃

〃No；　that　is　true。　　But　I　was　thinking　of　it。　　She　fascinates　me。　　Are
they　going　to　get　off　at　Boulogne？〃

〃No；　they　are　going　on　to　Rotterdam。〃

〃To　be　sure！　　Boyne　told　me。　　And　are　you　going　on　with　them？〃

〃I　thought　we　talked　of　my　going　to　Paris。〃　　Breckon　looked　round　at　her；
and　she　made　a　gesture　of　deprecation。

〃Why；　of　course！　　How　could　I　forget？　　But　I'm　so　much　interested　in　Miss
Kenton　that　I　can't　think　of　anything　else。〃

〃Not　even　of　Miss　Rasmith？〃

〃Not　even　of　Miss　Rasmith。　　I　know　that　she　has　a　history；　and　that　it's
a　sad　one。〃　　She　paused　in　ironical　hesitation。　　〃You've　been　so　good　as
to　caution　me　about　her　brotherand　I　never　can　be　grateful　enoughand
that　makes　me　almost　free　to　suggest〃

She　stopped　again；　and　he　asked；　hardily；　〃What？〃

〃Oh；　nothing。　　It　isn't　for　me　to　remind　my　pastor；　my　ghostly　adviser〃
she　pulled　down　her　mouth　and　glanced　at　him　demurely〃　and　I　will　only
offer　the　generalization　that　a　girl　is　never　so　much　in　danger　of　having
her　heart　broken　as　when　she's　had　it　brokenOh；　are　you　leaving　me？〃　
she　cried；　as　Breckon　rose　from　his　chair。

〃Well；　then；　send　Boyne　to　me。〃　　She　broke　into　a　laugh　as　he　faltered。　
〃Are　you　going　to　sit　down　again？　　That　is　right。　　And　I　won't　talk　any
more　about　Miss　Kenton。〃

〃I　don't　mind　talking　of　her；〃　said　Breckon。　　〃Perhaps　it　will　even　be
well　to　do　so　if　you　are　in　earnest。　　Though　it　strikes　me　that　you　have
rather　renounced　the　right　to　criticise　me。〃

〃Now；　is　that　logical？　　It　seems　to　me　that　in　putting　myself　in　the
attitude　of　a　final　friend　at　the　start；　and　refusing　to　be　anything
more；　I　leave　established　my　right　to　criticise　you　on　the　firmest　basis。　
I　can't　possibly　be　suspected　of　interested　motives。　　Besides；　you've
just　been　criticizing　me；　if　you　want　a　woman's　reason！〃

〃Well；　go　on。〃

〃Why；　I　had　finished。　　That's　the　amusing　part。　　I　should　have　supposed
that　I　could　go　on　forever　about　Miss　Kenton；　but　I　have　nothing　to　go
upon。　　She　has　kept　her　secret　very　well；　and　so　have　the　rest　of　them。　
You　think　I　might　have　got　it　out　of　Boyne？　　Perhaps　I　might；　but　you
know　I　have　my　little　scruples。　　I　don't　think　it　would　he　quite　fair；　or
quite　nice。〃

〃You　are　scrupulous。　　And　I　give　you　credit　for　having　been　more　delicate
than　I've　been。〃

〃You　don't　mean　you've　been　trying　to　find　it　out！〃

〃Ah；　now　I'm　not　sure