the kentons-第25章

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〃Poppa；〃　she　said；　〃there　is　something　that　Mr。　Breckon　wants　to　speak　to
youto　ask　you　about。　　He　has　asked　me；　but　I　want　you　to　see　him；　for　I
think　he　had　better　tell　you　himself。〃

While　he　still　stared　at　her　she　was　as　suddenly　gone　as　she　had　come；
and　he　remained　with　his　book；　which　the　meaning　had　as　suddenly　left。　
There　was　no　meaning　in　her　words；　except　as　he　put　it　into　them；　and
after　he　had　got　it　in　he　struggled　with　it　in　a　sort　of　perfunctory
incredulity。　　It　was　not　impossible；　it　chiefly　seemed　so　because　it
seemed　too　good　to　be　true；　and　the　more　he　pondered　it　the　more
possible；　if　not　probable；　it　became。　　He　could　not　be　safe　with　it　till
he　had　submitted　it　to　his　wife；　and　he　went　to　her　while　he　was　sure　of
repeating　Ellen's　words　without　varying　from　them　a　syllable。

To　his　astonishment；　Mrs。　Kenton　was　instantly　convinced。　　〃Why；　of
course；〃　she　said；　〃it　can't　possibly　mean　anything　else。　　Why　should　it
be　so　very　surprising？　　The　time　hasn't　been　very　long；　but　they've　been
together　almost　every　moment；　and　he　was　taken　with　her　from　the　very
beginningI　could　see　that。　　Put　on　your　other　coat；〃　she　said；　as　she
dusted　the　collar　of　the　coat　the　judge　was　wearing。　　〃He'll　be　looking
you　up；　at　once。　　I　can't　say　that　it's　unexpected；〃　and　she　claimed　a
prescience　in　the　matter　which　all　her　words　had　hitherto　denied。

Kenton　did　not　notice　her　inconsistency。　　〃If　it　were　not　so　exactly　what
I　wished；〃　he　said；　〃I　don't　know　that　I　should　be　surprised　at　it
myself。　　Sarah；　if　I　had　been　trying　to　imagine　any　one　for　Ellen；　I
couldn't　have　dreamed　of　a　person　better　suited　to　her　than　this　young
man。　　He's　everything　that　I　could　wish　him　to　be。　　I've　seen　the
pleasure　and　comfort　she　took　in　his　way　from　the　first　moment。　　He
seemed　to　make　her　forget　Do　you　suppose　she　has　forgotten　that
miserable　wretch　Do　you　think〃

〃If　she　hadn't；　could　she　be　letting　him　come　to　speak　to　you？　　I　don't
believe　she　ever　really　cared　for　Bittridgeor　not　after　he　began
flirting　with　Mrs。　Uphill。〃　　She　had　no　shrinking　from　the　names　which
Kenton　avoided　with　disgust。　　〃The　only　question　for　you　is　to　consider
what　you　shall　say　to　Mr。　Breckon。〃

〃Say　to　him？　　Why；　of　course；　if　Ellen　has　made　up　her　mind；　there's　only
one　thing　I　can　say。〃

〃Indeed　there　is！　　He　ought　to　know　all　about　that　disgusting　Bittridge
business；　and　you　have　got　to　tell　him。〃

〃Sarah；　I　couldn't。　　It　is　too　humiliating。　　How　would　it　do　to　refer　him
to　You　could　manage　that　part　so　much　better。　　I　don't　see　how　I　could
keep　it　from　seeming　an　indelicate　betrayal　of　the　poor　child〃

〃Perhaps　she's　told　him　herself；〃　Mrs。　Kenton　provisionally　suggested。

The　judge　eagerly　caught　at　the　notion。　　〃Do　you　think　so？　　It　would　be
like　her！　　Ellen　would　wish　him　to　know　everything。〃

He　stopped；　and　his　wife　could　see　that　he　was　trembling　with　excitement。　
〃We　must　find　out。　　I　will　speak　to　Ellen〃

〃Andyou　don't　think　I'd　better　have　the　talk　with　him　first？〃

〃Certainly　not！〃

〃Why；　Rufus！　　You　were　not　going　to　look　him　up？〃

〃No；〃　he　hesitated；　but　she　could　see　that　some　such　thing　had　been　on
his　mind。

〃Surely；〃　she　said；　〃you　must　be　crazy！〃　　But　she　had　not　the　heart　to
blight　his　joy　with　sarcasm；　and　perhaps　no　sarcasm　would　have　blighted
it。

〃I　merely　wondered　what　I　had　better　say　in　case　he　spoke　to　me　before
you　saw　Ellenthat's　all。　　Sarah！　　I　couldn't　have　believed　that
anything　could　please　me　so　much。　　But　it　does　seem　as　if　it　were　the
assurance　of　Ellen's　happiness；　and　she　has　deserved　it；　poor　child！　　If
ever　there　was　a　dutiful　and　loving　daughterat　least　before　that
wretched　affairshe　was　one。〃

〃She　has　been　a　good　girl；〃　Mrs。　Kenton　stoically　admitted。

〃And　they　are　very　well　matched。　　Ellen　is　a　cultivated　woman。　　He　never
could　have　cause　to　blush　for　her；　either　her　mind　or　her　manners；　in　any
circle　of　society；　she　would　do　him　credit　under　any　and　all
circumstances。　　If　it　were　Lottie〃

〃Lottie　is　all　right；〃　said　her　mother；　in　resentment　of　his　preference；
but　she　could　not　help　smiling　at　it。　　〃Don't　you　be　foolish　about　Ellen。　
I　approve　of　Mr。　Breckon　as　much　as　you　do。　　But　it's　her　prettiness　and
sweetness　that's　taken　his　fancy；　and　not　her　wisdom；　if　she's　got　him。〃

〃If　she's　got　him？〃

〃Well；　you　know　what　I　mean。　　I'm　not　saying　she　hasn't。　　Dear　knows；　I
don't　want　to！　　I　feel　just　as　you　do　about　it。　　I　think　it's　the
greatest　piece　of　good　fortune；　coming　on　top　of　all　our　trouble　with
her。　　I　couldn't　have　imagined　such　a　thing。〃

He　was　instantly　appeased。　　〃Are　you　going　to　speak　with　Ellen〃　he
radiantly　inquired。

〃I　will　see。　　There's　no　especial　hurry；　is　there？〃

〃Only；　if　he　should　happen　to　meet　me〃

〃You　can　keep　out　of　his　way；　I　reckon。　　Or　You　can　put　him　off；
somehow。〃

〃Yes；〃　Kenton　returned；　doubtfully。　　〃Don't；〃　he　added；　〃be　too　blunt
with　Ellen。　　You　know　she　didn't　say　anything　explicit　to　me。〃

〃I　think　I　will　know　how　to　manage；　Mr。　　Kenton。〃

〃Yes；　of　course；　Sarah。　　I'm　not　saying　that。〃

Breckon　did　not　apparently　try　to　find　the　judge　before　lunch；　and　at
table　he　did　not　seem　especially　devoted　to　Ellen　in　her　father's　jealous
eyes。　　He　joked　Lottie；　and　exchanged　those　passages　or　repartee　with　her
in　which　she　did　not　mind　using　a　bludgeon　when　she　had　not　a　rapier　at
hand；　it　is　doubtful　if　she　was　very　sensible　of　the　difference。　　Ellen
sat　by　in　passive　content；　smiling　now　and　then；　and　Boyne　carried　on　a
dignified　conversation　with　Mr。　Pogis；　whom　he　had　asked　to　lunch　at　his
table；　and　who　listened　with　one　ear　to　the　vigorous　retorts　of　Lottie　in
her　combat　with　Breckon。

The　judge　witnessed　it　all　with　a　grave　displeasure；　more　and　more
painfully　apparent　to　his　wife。　　She　could　see　the　impatience；　the
gathering　misgiving；　in　his　face；　and　she　perceived　that　she　must　not　let
this　come　to　conscious　dissatisfaction　with　Breckon；　she　knew　her　husband
capable　of　indignation　with　trifling　which　would　complicate　the
situation；　if　it　came　to　that。　　She　decided　to　speak　with　Ellen　as　soon
as　possible；　and　she　meant　to　follow　her　to　her　state…room　when　they　left
the　table。　　But　fate　assorted　the　pieces　in　the　game　differently。　　Boyne
walked　over　to　the　place　where　Miss　Rasmith　was　sitting　with　her　mother；
Lottie　and　Mr。　Pogis　went　off　to　practise　duets　together；　terrible；　four…
…handed　torments　under　which　the　piano　presently　clamored；　and　Ellen
stood　for　a　moment　talked　to　by　Mr。　Breckon；　who　challenged　her　then　for
a　walk　on　deck；　and　with　whom　she　went　away　smiling。

Mrs。　Kenton　appealed　with　the　reflection　of　the　girl's　happiness　in　her
face　to　the　frowning　censure　in　her　husband's；　but　Kenton　spoke　first。　
〃What　does　he　mean？〃　　he　demanded；　darkly。　　〃If　he　is　making　a　fool　of
her　he'll　find　that　that　game　can't　be　played　twice；　with　impunity。　
Sarah；　I　believe　I　should　choke　him。〃

〃Mr。　　Kenton！〃　　she　gasped；　and　she　trembled　in　fear　of　him；　even　while
she　kept　herself　with　difficulty　from　shaking　him　for　his　folly。　　〃Don't
say　such　a　thing！　　Can't　you　see　that　they　want　to　talk　it　over？　　If　he
hasn't　spoken　to　you　it's　because　he　wants　to　know　how　you　took　what　she
said。〃　　Seeing　the　effect　of　these　arguments；　she　pursued：　〃Will　you
never　have　any　sense？　　I　will　speak　to　Ellen　the　very　minute　I　get　her
alone；　and　you　have　just　got　to　wait。　　Don't　you　suppose　it's　hard　for
me；　too？　　Have　I　got　nothing　to　bear？〃

Kenton　went　silently　back　to　his　book；　which　he　took　with　him　to　the
reading…room；　where　from　time　to　time　his　wife　came　to　him　and　reported
that　Ellen　and　Breckon　were　still　walking　up　and　down　together；　or　that
they　were　sitting　down　talking；　or　were　forward；　looking　over　at　the
prow；　or　were　watching　the　deck…passengers　dancing。　　Her　husband　received
her　successive　advices　with　relaxing　interest；　and　when　she　had　brought
the　last　she　was　aware　that　the　affair　was　entirely　in　her　hands　with　all
the　responsibility。　　After　the　gay　parting　between　Ellen　and　Breckon；
which　took　place　late　in　the　afternoon；　she　suffered　an　interval　to
elapse　before　she　followed　the　girl　down　to　her　state…room。　　She　found
her　lying　in　her　berth；　with　shining　eyes　and　glad；　red　cheeks；　she　was
smiling　to　herself。

〃That　is　right；　Ellen；〃　her　mother　said。　　〃　You　need　rest　after　your　long
tramp。〃

〃I'm　not　tired。　　We　were　sitting　down　a　good　deal。　　I　didn't　think　how
late　it　was。　　I'm　ever　so　much　better。　　Where's　Lottie？〃

〃Off　somewhere　with　that　young　Englishman；〃　said　Mrs。　Kenton；　as　if　that
were　of　no　sort　of　consequence。　　〃Ellen；〃　she　added；　abruptly；　trying
within　a　tremulous　smile　to　hide　her　eagerness；　〃what　is　this　that　Mr。
Breckon　wants　to　talk　with　your　father　about？〃

〃Mr。　Breckon？　　With　poppa？〃

〃Yes；　certainly。　　You　told　him　this　morning　that　Mr。　Breckon〃

〃Oh！　　Oh　yes！〃　　said　Ellen；　as　if　recollecting　something　that　had　slipped
her　mind。　　〃He　wants　poppa　to　advise　him　whether　to　go　back　to　his
congregation　in　New　York　or　not。〃

Mrs。　Kenton　sat　in　the　corner　of　the　sofa　next　the　door；　looking　into　the
girl's　face　on　the　pillow　as　she　lay　with　her　arms　under　her　head。　　Tears
of　defeat　and　shame　came　into　her　eyes；　and　she　could　not　see　the　girl's
light　nonchalance　in　adding：

〃But　he　hasn't　got　up　his　courage　yet。　　He　thinks　he'll　ask　him　after
dinner。　　He　says　he　doesn't　want　poppa　to　think　he's　posing。　　I　don't
know　what　he　means。〃

Mrs。　Kenton　did　not　speak　at　once。　　Her　bitterest　mortification　was　not
for　herself；　but　for　the　simple　and　tender　father…soul　which　had　been　so
tried　already。　　She　did　not　know　how　he　would　bear　it；　the
disappointment；　and　the　cruel　hurt　to　his　pride。　　But　she　wanted　to　fall
on　her　knees　in　thankfulness　that　he　had　betrayed　himself　only　to　her。

She　started　in　sudden　alarm　with　the　thought。　　〃Where　is　he　now
Mr。　Breckon？〃

〃He's　gone　with　Boyne　down　into　the　baggage…room。〃

Mrs。　Kenton　sank　back　in　her　corner；　aware　now　that　she　would　not　have
had　the　strength　to　go　to　her　husband　even　to　save　him　from　the　awful
disgrace　of　giving　himself　away　to　Breckon。　　〃And　was　that　all？〃　　she
faltered。

〃All？〃

〃That　he　wanted　to　speak　to　your　father　about？〃

She　must　make　irrefragably　sure；　for　Kenton's　sake；　that　she　was　not
misunderstanding。

〃Why；　of　course！　　What　else？　　Why；　momma！　what　are　you　crying　about？〃

〃I'm　not　crying；　child。　　Just　some　foolishness　of　your　father's。　　He
understoodhe　thought〃　Mrs。　Kenton　began　to　laugh　hysterically。　　〃But
you　know　how　ridiculous　he　is；　and　he　supposed　No；　I　won't　tell　you！〃

It　was　not　necessary。　　The　girl's　mind；　perhaps　because　it　was　imbued
already　with　the　subject；　had　possessed　itself　of　what　filled　her
mother's。　　She　dropped　from　the　elbow　on　which　she　had　lifted　herself；
and　turned　her　face　into　the　pillow；　with　a　long　wail　of　shame。




XVIII。

Mrs。　Kenton's　difficulties　in　setting　her　husband　right　were　indefinitely
heightened　by　the　suspicion　that　the　most　unsuspicious　of　men　fell　into
concerning　Breckon。　　Did　Breckon　suppose　that　the　matter　could　be　turned
off　in　that　way？　he　stupidly　demanded；　and　when　he　was　extricated　from
this　error　by　his　wife's　representation　that　Bre