the kentons-第26章

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off　in　that　way？　he　stupidly　demanded；　and　when　he　was　extricated　from
this　error　by　his　wife's　representation　that　Breckon　had　not　changed　at
all；　but　had　never　told　Ellen　that　he　wished　to　speak　with　him　of
anything　but　his　returning　to　his　society；　Kenton　still　could　not　accept
the　fact。　　He　would　have　contended　that　at　least　the　other　matter　must
have　been　in　Breckon's　mind；　and　when　he　was　beaten　from　this　position；
and　convinced　that　the　meaning　they　had　taken　from　Ellen's　words　had
never　been　in　any　mind　but　their　own；　he　fell　into　humiliation　so　abject
that　he　could　hide　it　only　by　the　hauteur　with　which　he　carried　himself
towards　Breckon　when　they　met　at　dinner。　　He　would　scarcely　speak　to　the
young　man；　Ellen　did　not　come　to　the　table；　Lottie　and　Boyne　and　their
friend　Mr。　Pogis　were　dining　with　the　Rasmiths；　and　Mrs。　Kenton　had　to
be；　as　she　felt；　cringingly　kind　to　Breckon　in　explaining　just　the　sort
of　temporary　headache　that　kept　her　eldest　daughter　away。　　He　was　more
than　ordinarily　sympathetic　and　polite；　but　he　was　manifestly　bewildered
by　Kenton's　behavior。　　He　refused　an　hilarious　invitation　from　Mrs。
Rasmith；　when　he　rose　from　table；　to　stop　and　have　his　coffee　with　her　on
his　way　out　of　the　saloon。　　His　old　adorer　explained　that　she　had　ordered
a　small　bottle　of　champagne　in　honor　of　its　being　the　night　before　they
were　to　get　into　Boulogne；　and　that　he　ought　to　sit　down　and　help　her
keep　the　young　people　straight。　　Julia；　she　brokenly　syllabled；　with　the
gay　beverage　bubbling　back　into　her　throat；　was　not　the　least　use；　she
was　worse　than　any。　　Julia　did　not　look　it；　in　the　demure　regard　which
she　bent　upon　her　amusing　mother；　and　Breckon　persisted　in　refusing。　　He
said　he　thought　he　might　safely　leave　them　to　Boyne；　and　Mrs。　Rasmith
said　into　her　handkerchief；　〃Oh　yes！　　Boyne！〃　　and　pressed　Boyne's　sleeve
with　her　knobbed　and　jewelled　fingers。

It　was　evident　where　most　of　the　small　bottle　had　gone；　but　Breckon　was
none　the　cheerfuller　for　the　spectacle　of　Mrs。　Rasmith。　　He　could　not
have　a　moment's　doubt　as　to　the　sort　of　work　he　had　been　doing　in　New
York　if　she　were　an　effect　of　it；　and　he　turned　his　mind　from　the　sad
certainty　back　to　the　more　important　inquiry　as　to　what　offence　his　wish
to　advise　with　Judge　Kenton　could　have　conveyed。　　Ellen　had　told　him　in
the　afternoon　that　she　had　spoken　with　her　father　about　it；　and　she　had
not　intimated　any　displeasure　or　reluctance　on　him；　but　apparently　he　had
decided　not　to　suffer　himself　to　be　approached。

It　might　be　as　well。　　Breckon　had　not　been　able　to　convince　himself　that
his　proposal　to　consult　Judge　Kenton　was　not　a　pose。　　He　had　flashes　of
owning　that　it　was　contemplated　merely　as　a　means　of　ingratiating　himself
with　Ellen。　　Now；　as　he　found　his　way　up　and　down　among　the　empty
steamer…chairs；　he　was　aware；　at　the　bottom　of　his　heart；　of　not　caring
in　the　least　for　Judge　Kenton's　repellent　bearing；　except　as　it　possibly；
or　impossibly；　reflected　some　mood　of　hers。　　He　could　not　make　out　her
not　coming　to　dinner；　the　headache　was　clearly　an　excuse；　for　some　reason
she　did　not　wish　to　see　him；　he　argued；　with　the　egotism　of　his
condition。

The　logic　of　his　conclusion　was　strengthened　at　breakfast　by　her
continued　absence；　and　this　time　Mrs。　Kenton　made　no　apologies　for　her。　
The　judge　was　a　shade　less　severe；　or　else　Breckon　did　not　put　himself　so
much　in　the　way　to　be　withheld　as　he　had　the　night　before。　　Boyne　and
Lottie　carried　on　a　sort　of　muted　scrap；　unrebuked　by　their　mother；　who
seemed　too　much　distracted　in　some　tacit　trouble　to　mind　them。　　From　time
to　time　Breckon　found　her　eyes　dwelling　upon　him　wonderingly；
entreatingly；　she　dropped　them；　if　she　caught　his；　and　colored。

In　the　afternoon　it　was　early　evident　that　they　were　approaching
Boulogne。　　The　hatch　was　opened　and　the　sailors　began　getting　up　the
baggage　of　the　passengers　who　were　going　to　disembark。　　It　seemed　a　long
time　for　everybody　till　the　steamer　got　in；　those　going　ashore　sat　on
their　hand…baggage　for　an　hour　before　the　tug　came　up　to　take；　them　off。　
Mr。　Pogis　was　among　them；　he　had　begun　in　the　forenoon　to　mark　the
approaching　separation　between　Lottie　and　himself　by　intervals　of
unmistakable　withdrawal。　　Another　girl　might　have　cared；　but　Lottie　did
not　care；　for　her　failure　to　get　a　rise　out　of　him　by　her　mockingly
varied　〃Oh；　I　say！〃　　and　〃Well；　rather！〃　　In　the　growth　of　his　dignified
reserve　Mr。　Pogis　was　indifferent　to　jeers。　　By　whatever　tradition　of
what　would　or　would　not　do　he　was　controlled　in　relinquishing　her
acquaintance；　or　whether　it　was　in　obedience　to　some　imperative　ideal；　or
some　fearful　domestic　influence　subtly　making　itself　felt　from　the　coasts
of　his　native　island；　or　some　fine　despair　of　equalling　the　imagined
grandeur　of　Lottie's　social　state　in　Tuskingum　by　anything　he　could　show
her　in　England；　it　was　certain　that　he　was　ending　with　Lottie　then　and
there。　　At　the　same　time　he　was　carefully　defining　himself　from　the
Rasmiths；　with　whom　he　must　land。　　He　had　his　state…room　things　put　at　an
appreciable　distance；　where　he　did　not　escape　a　final　stab　from　Lottie。

〃Oh；　do　give　me　a　rose　out　of　that；〃　she　entreated；　in　travestied
imploring；　as　he　stood　looking　at　a　withered　bouquet　which　the　steward
had　brought　up　with　his　rugs。

〃I'm　takin'　it　home；〃　he　explained；　coldly。

〃And　I　want　to　take　a　rose　back　to　New　York。　　I　want　to　give　it　to　a
friend　of　mine　there。〃

Mr。　Pogis　hesitated。　　Then　he　asked；　〃A　man？〃　　〃Well；　rather！〃　　said
Lottie。

He　answered　nothing；　but　looked　definitively　down　at　the　flowers　in　his
hand。

〃Oh；　I　say！〃　　Lottie　exulted。

Boyne　remained　fixed　in　fealty　to　the　Rasmiths；　with　whom　Breckon　was
also　talking　as　Mrs。　Kenton　came　up　with　the　judge。　　She　explained　how
sorry　her　daughter　Ellen　was　at　not　being　able　to　say　goodbye；　she　was
still　not　at　all　well；　and　the　ladies　received　her　excuses　with　polite
patience。　　Mrs。　Rasmith　said　she　did　not　know　what　they　should　do　without
Boyne；　and　Miss　Rasmith　put　her　arm　across　his　shoulders　and　pulled　him
up　to　her；　and　implored；　〃Oh；　give　him　to　me；　Mrs。　Kenton！〃

Boyne　stole　an　ashamed　look　at　his　mother；　and　his　father　said；　with　an
unbending　to　Breckon　which　must　have　been　the　effect　of　severe
expostulation　from　Mrs。　Kenton；　〃I　suppose　you　and　the　ladies　will　go　to
Paris　together。〃

〃Why；　no；〃　Breckon　said；　and　he　added；　with　mounting　confusion；　〃II　had
arranged　to　keep　on　to　Rotterdam。　　I　was　going　to　mention　it。〃

〃Keep　on　to　Rotterdam！〃　　Mrs。　Rasmith's　eyes　expressed　the　greatest
astonishment。

〃Why；　of　course；　mother！〃　　said　her　daughter。　　〃Don't　you　know？　　Boyne
told　us。〃

Boyne；　after　their　parting；　seized　the　first　chance　of　assuring　his
mother　that　he　had　not　told　Miss　Rasmith　that；　for　he　had　not　known　it；
and　he　went　so　far　in　her　condemnation　to　wonder　how　she　could　say　such
a　thing。　　His　mother　said　it　was　not　very　nice；　and　then　suggested　that
perhaps　she　had　heard　it　from　some　one　else；　and　thought　it　was　he。　　She
acquitted　him　of　complicity　with　Miss　Rasmith　in　forbearing　to　contradict
her；　and　it　seemed　to　her　a　fitting　time　to　find　out　from　Boyne　what　she
honestly　could　about　the　relation　of　the　Rasmiths　to　Mr。　Breckon。　　It　was
very　little　beyond　their　supposition；　which　every　one　else　had　shared；
that　he　was　going　to　land　with　them　at　Boulogne；　and　he　must　have　changed
his　mind　very　suddenly。　　Boyne　had　not　heard　the　Rasmiths　speak　of　it。　
Miss　Rasmith　never　spoke　of　Mr。　Breckon　at　all；　but　she　seemed　to　want　to
talk　of　Ellen；　she　was　always　asking　about　her；　and　what　was　the　matter
with　her；　and　how　long　she　had　been　sick。

〃Boyne；〃　said　his　mother；　with　a　pang；　〃you　didn't　tell　her　anything
about　Ellen？〃

〃Momma！〃　said　the　boy；　in　such　evident　abhorrence　of　the　idea　that　she
rested　tranquil　concerning　it。　　She　paid　little　attention　to　what　Boyne
told　her　otherwise　of　the　Rasmiths。　　Her　own　horizon　were　so　limited　that
she　could　not　have　brought　home　to　herself　within　them　that　wandering
life　the　Rasmiths　led　from　climate　to　climate　and　sensation　to　sensation；
with　no　stay　so　long　as　the　annually　made　in　New　York；　where　they
sometimes　passed　months　enough　to　establish　themselves　in　giving　and
taking　tea　in　a　circle　of　kindred　nomads。　　She　conjectured　as　ignorantly
as　Boyne　himself　that　they　were　very　rich；　and　it　would　not　have
enlightened　her　to　know　that　the　mother　was　the　widow　of　a　California
politician；　whom　she　had　married　in　the　sort　of　middle　period　following
upon　her　less　mortuary　survival　of　Miss　Rasmith's　father；　whose　name　was
not　Rasmith。

What　Mrs。　Kenton　divined　was　that　they　had　wanted　to　get　Breckon；　and
that　so　far　as　concerned　her　own　interest　in　him　they　had　wanted　to　get
him　away　from　Ellen。　　In　her　innermost　self…confidences　she　did　not
permit　herself　the　notion　that　Ellen　had　any　right　to　him；　but　still　it
was　a　relief　to　have　them　off　the　ship；　and　to　have　him　left。　　Of　all　the
witnesses　of　the　fact；　she　alone　did　not　find　it　awkward。　　Breckon
himself　found　it　very　awkward。　　He　did　not　wish　to　be　with　the　Rasmiths；
but　he　found　it　uncomfortable　not　being　with　them；　under　the
circumstances；　and　he　followed　them　ashore　in　tingling　reveries　of
explanation　and　apology。　　He　had　certainly　meant　to　get　off　at　Boulogne；
and　when　he　had　suddenly　and　tardily　made　up　his　mind　to　keep　on　to
Rotterdam；　he　had　meant　to　tell　them　as　soon　as　he　had　the　labels　on　his
baggage　changed。　　He　had　not　meant　to　tell　them　why　he　had　changed　his
mind；　and　he　did　not　tell　them　now　in　these　tingling　reveries。　　He　did
not　own　the　reason　in　his　secret　thoughts；　for　it　no　longer　seemed　a
reason；　it　no　longer　seemed　a　cause。　　He　knew　what　the　Rasmiths　would
think；　but　he　could　easily　make　that　right　with　his　conscience；　at　least；
by　parting　with　the　Kentons　at　Rotterdam；　and　leaving　them　to　find　their
unconducted　way　to　any　point　they　chose　beyond。　　He　separated　himself
uncomfortably　from　them　when　the　tender　had　put　off　with　her　passengers
and　the　ship　had　got　under　way　again；　and　went　to　the　smoking…room；　while
the　judge　returned　to　his　book　and　Mrs。　Kenton　abandoned　Lottie　to　her
own　devices；　and　took　Boyne　aside　for　her　apparently　fruitless　inquiries。

They　were　not　really　so　fruitless　but　that　at　the　end　of　them　she　could
go　with　due　authority　to　look　up　her　husband。　　She　gently　took　his　book
from　him　and　shut　it　up。　　〃Now；　Mr。　Kenton；〃　she　began；　〃if　you　don't　go
right　straight　and　find　Mr。　Breckon　and　talk　with　him；　II　don't　know
what　I　will　do。　　You　must　talk　to　him〃

〃About　Ellen？〃　　the　judge　frowned。

〃No；　certainly　not。　　Talk　with　him　about　anything　that　interests　you。　　Be
pleasant　to　him。　　Can't　you　see　that　he's　going　on　to　Rotterdam　on　our
account？〃

〃Then　I　wish　he　wasn't。　　There's　no　use　in　it。〃

〃No　matter！　　It's　polite　in　him；　and　I　want　you　to　show　him　that　you
appreciate　it。〃

〃Now　see　here；　Sarah；〃　said　the　judge；　〃if　you　want　him　shown　that　we
appreciate　his　politeness　why　don't　you　do　it　yourself？〃

〃I？　　Because　it　would　look　as　if　you　were　afraid　to。　　It　would　look　as　if
we　meant　something　by　it。〃

〃Well；　I　am　afraid；　and　that's　just　what　I'm　afraid　of。　　I　declare；　my
hear