the kentons-第27章

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we　meant　something　by　it。〃

〃Well；　I　am　afraid；　and　that's　just　what　I'm　afraid　of。　　I　declare；　my
heart　comes　into　my　mouth　whenever　I　think　what　an　escape　we　had。　　I
think　of　it　whenever　I　look　at　him；　and　I　couldn't　talk　to　him　without
having　that　in　my　mind　all　the　time。　　No；　women　can　manage　those　things
better。　　If　you　believe　he　is　going　along　on　our　account；　so　as　to　help
us　see　Holland；　and　to　keep　us　from　getting　into　scrapes；　you're　the　one
to　make　it　up　to　him。　　I　don't　care　what　you　say　to　show　him　our
gratitude。　　I　reckon　we　will　get　into　all　sorts　of　trouble　if　we're　left
to　ourselves。　　But　if　you　think　he's　stayed　because　he　wants　to　be　with
Ellen；　and〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　KNOW　what　I　think！　　And　that's　silly　I　can't　talk　to　him。　
I'm　afraid　it'll　seem　as　if　we　wanted　to　flatter　him；　and　goodness　knows
we　don't　want　to。　　Or；　yes；　we　do！　　I'd　give　anything　if　it　was　true。　
Rufus；　do　you　suppose　he　did　stay　on　her　account？　　My；　oh；　my！　　If　I
could　only　think　so！　　Wouldn't　it　be　the　best　thing　in　the　world　for　the
poor　child；　and　for　all　of　us？　　I　never　saw　anybody　that　I　liked　so　much。
But　it's　too　good　to　be　true。〃

〃He's　a　nice　fellow；　but　I　don't　think　he's　any　too　good　for　Ellen。〃

〃I'm　not　saying　he　is。　　The　great　thing　is　that　he's　good　enough；　and
gracious　knows　what　will　happen　if　she　meets　some　other　worthless　fellow；
and　gets　befooled　with　him！　　Or　if　she　doesn't　take　a　fancy　to　some　one；
and　goes　back　to　Tuskingum　without　seeing　any　one　else　she　likes；　there
is　that　awful　wretch；　and　when　she　hears　what　Dick　did　to　himshe's　just
wrong…headed　enough　to　take　up　with　him　again　to　make　amends　to　him。　　Oh；
dear　oh；　dear！　　I　know　Lottie　will　let　it　out　to　her　yet！〃

The　judge　began　threateningly；　〃You　tell　Lottie　from　me〃

〃What？〃　　said　the　girl　herself；　who　had　seen　her　father　and　mother
talking　together　in　a　remote　corner　of　the　music…room　and　had　stolen
light…footedly　upon　them　just　at　this　moment。

〃Lottie；　child；〃　said　her　mother；　undismayed　at　Lottie's　arrival　in　her
larger　anxiety；　〃I　wish　you　would　try　and　be　agreeable　to　Mr。　Breckon。　
Now　that　he's　going　on　with　us　to　Holland；　I　don't　want　him　to　think
we're　avoiding　him。〃

〃Why？〃

〃Oh；　because。〃

〃Because　you　want　to　get　him　for　Ellen？〃

〃Don't　be　impudent；〃　said　her　father。　　〃You　do　as　your　mother　bids　you。〃

〃Be　agreeable　to　that　old　Breckon？　　I　think　I　see　myself！　　I'd　sooner
read！　　I'm　going　to　get　a　book　now。〃　　She　left　them　as　abruptly　as　she
had　come　upon　them；　and　ran　across　to　the　bookcase；　where　she　remained
two　stepping　and　peering　through　the　glass　doors　at　the　literature
within；　in　unaccustomed　question　concerning　it。

〃She's　a　case；〃　said　the　judge；　looking　at　her　not　only　with　relenting；
but　with　the　pride　in　her　sufficiency　for　all　the　exigencies　of　life
which　he　could　not　feel　in　Ellen。　　〃She　can　take　care　of　herself。〃

〃Oh　yes；〃　Mrs。　Kenton　sadly　assented；　I　don't　think　anybody　will　ever
make　a　fool　of　Lottie。〃

〃It's　a　great　deal　more　likely　to　be　the　other　way；〃　her　father
suggested。

〃I　think　Lottie　is　conscientious；〃　Mrs。　Kenton　protested。　　〃She　wouldn't
really　fool　with　a　man。〃

〃No；　she's　a　good　girl；〃　the　judge　owned。

〃It's　girls　like　Ellen　who　make　the　trouble　and　the　care。　　They　are　too
good；　and　you　have　to　think　some　evil　in　this　world。　　Well！〃　　She　rose
and　gave　her　husband　back　his　book。

〃Do　you　know　where　Boyne　is？〃

〃No。　　Do　you　want　him　to　be　pleasant　to　Mr。　Breckon？〃

〃Somebody　has　got　to。　　But　it　would　be　ridiculous　if　nobody　but　Boyne
was。〃

She　did　not　find　Boyne；　after　no　very　exhaustive　search；　and　the　boy　was
left　to　form　his　bearing　towards　Breckon　on　the　behavior　of　the　rest　of
his　family。　　As　this　continued　helplessly　constrained　both　in　his　father
and　mother；　and　voluntarily　repellent　in　Lottie；　Boyne　decided　upon　a
blend　of　conduct　which　left　Breckon　in　greater　and　greater　doubt　of　his
wisdom　in　keeping　on　to　Rotterdam。　　There　was　no　good　reason　which　he
would　have　been　willing　to　give　himself；　from　the　beginning。　　It　had　been
an　impulse；　suddenly　coming　upon　him　in　the　baggage…room　where　he　had
gone　to　get　something　out　of　his　trunk；　and　where　he　had　decided　to　have
the　label　of　his　baggage　changed　from　the　original　destination　at
Boulogne　to　the　final　port　of　the　steamer's　arrival。　　When　this　was　once
done　he　was　sorry；　but　he　was　ashamed　to　have　the　label　changed　back。　
The　most　assignable　motive　for　his　act　was　his　reluctance　to　go　on　to
Paris　with　the　Rasmiths；　or　rather　with　Mrs。　Rasmith；　for　with　her
daughter；　who　was　not　a　bad　fellow；　one　could　always　manage。　　He　was
quite　aware　of　being　safely　in　his　own　hands　against　any　design　of　Mrs。
Rasmith's；　but　her　machinations　humiliated　him　for　her；　he　hated　to　see
her　going　through　her　manoeuvres；　and　he　could　not　help　grieving　for　her
failures；　with　a　sort　of　impersonal　sympathy；　all　the　more　because　he
disliked　her　as　little　as　he　respected　her。

The　motive　which　he　did　not　assign　to　himself　was　that　which　probably
prevailed　with　him；　though　in　the　last　analysis　it　was　as　selfish；　no
doubt；　as　the　one　he　acknowledged。　　Ellen　Kenton　still　piqued　his
curiosity；　still　touched　his　compassion。　　He　had　so　far　from　exhausted
his　wish　or　his　power　to　befriend　her；　to　help　her；　that　he　had　still　a
wholly　unsatisfied　longing　to　console　her；　especially　when　she　drooped
into　that　listless　attitude　she　was　apt　to　take；　with　her　face　fallen　and
her　hands　let　lie；　the　back　of　one　in　the　palm　of　the　other；　in　her　lap。　
It　was　possibly　the　vision　of　this　following　him　to　the　baggage…room；
when　he　went　to　open　his　trunk；　that　as　much　as　anything　decided　him　to
have　the　label　changed　on　his　baggage；　but　he　did　not　own　it　then；　and
still　less　did　he　own　it　now；　when　he　found　himself　quite　on　his　own
hands　for　his　pains。

He　felt　that　for　some　reason　the　Kentons　were　all　avoiding　him。　　Ellen；
indeed；　did　not　take　part；　against　him；　unless　negatively；　for　she　had
appeared　neither　at　lunch　nor　at　dinner　as　the　vessel　kept　on　its　way
after　leaving　Boulogne；　and　when　he　ventured　to　ask　for　her　Mrs。　Kenton
answered　with　embarrassment　that　she　was　not　feeling　very　well。　　He　asked
for　her　at　lunch；　but　not　at　dinner；　and　when　he　had　finished　that　meal
he　went　on　the　promenade…deck；　and　walked　forlornly　up　and　down；　feeling
that　he　had　been　a　fool。

Mrs。　Kenton　went　below　to　her　daughter's　room；　and　found　Ellen　there　on
the　sofa；　with　her　book　shut　on　her　thumb　at　the　place　where　the　twilight
had　failed　her。

〃Ellen；　dear；〃　her　mother　said；　〃aren't　you　feeling　well？〃

〃Yes；　I'm　well　enough；〃　said　the　girl；　sensible　of　a　leading　in　the
question。　　〃Why？〃

〃Oh；　nothing。　　Onlyonly　I　can't　make　your　father　behave　naturally　with
Mr。　Breckon。　　He's　got　his　mind　so　full　of　that　mistake　we　both　came　so
near　making　that　he　can't　think　of　anything　else。　　He's　so　sheepish　about
it　that　he　can　hardly　speak　to　him　or　even　look　at　him；　and　I　must
confess　that　I　don't　do　much　better。　　You　know　I　don't　like　to　put　myself
forward　where　your　father　is；　and　if　I　did；　really　I　don't　believe　I
could　make　up　my　mouth　to　say　anything。　　I　did　want　Lottie　to　be　nice　to
him；　but　Lottie　dislikes　him　so！　　And　even　Boynewell；　it　wouldn't
matter　about　Boyne；　if　he　didn't　seem　to　be　carrying　out　a　sort　of　family
planBoyne　barely　answers　him　when　he　speaks　to　him。　　I　don't　know　what
he　can　think。〃　　Ellen　was　a　good　listener；　and　Mrs。　　Kenton；　having
begun；　did　not　stop　till　she　had　emptied　the　bag。　　〃I　just　know　that　he
didn't　get　off　at　Boulogne　because　he　wanted　to　stay　on　with　us；　and
thought　he　could　be　useful　to　us　at　The　Hague；　and　everywhere；　and　here
we're　acting　as　ungratefully！　　Why；　we're　not　even　commonly　polite　to
him；　and　I　know　he　feels　it。　　I　know　that　he's　hurt。〃

Ellen　rose　and　stood　before　the　glass；　into　which　he　asked　of　her
mother's　reflected　face；　while　she　knotted　a　fallen　coil　of　hair　into　its
place；　〃Where　is　he？〃

〃I　don't　know。　　He　went　on　deck　somewhere。〃

Ellen　put　on　her　hat　and　pinned　it；　and　put　on　her　jacket　and　buttoned
it。　　Then　she　started　towards　the　door。　　Her　mother　made　way　for　her；
faltering；　〃What　are　you　going　to　do；　Ellen？〃

〃I　am　going　to　do　right。〃

〃Don't…catch　cold！〃　　her　mother　called　after　her　figure　vanishing　down
the　corridor；　but　the　warning　couched　in　these　terms　had　really　no
reference　to　the　weather。

The　girl's　impulse　was　one　of　those　effects　of　the　weak　will　in　her　which
were　apt　to　leave　her　short　of　the　fulfilment　of　a　purpose。　　It　carried
her　as　her　as　the　promenade；　which　she　found　empty；　and　she　went　and
leaned　upon　the　rail；　and　looked　out　over　the　sorrowful　North　Sea；　which
was　washing　darkly　away　towards　where　the　gloomy　sunset　had　been。

Steps　from　the　other　side　of　the　ship　approached；　hesitated　towards　her；
and　then　arrested　themselves。　　She　looked　round。

〃Why；　Miss　Kenton！〃　　said　Breckon；　stupidly。

〃The　sunset　is　over；　isn't　it？〃　she　answered。

〃The　twilight　isn't。〃　　Breckon　stopped；　then　he　asked；　〃Wouldn't　you　like
to　take　a　little　walk？〃

〃Yes；〃　she　answered；　and　smiled　fully　upon　him。　　He　had　never　known
before　how　radiant　a　smile　she　lead。

〃Better　have　my　arm。　　It's　getting　rather　dark。〃

〃Well。〃　　She　put　her　hand　on　his　arm　and　he　felt　it　tremble　there；　while
she　palpitated；　〃We　are　all　so　glad　you　could　go　on　to　Rotterdam。　　My
mother　wanted　me　to　tell　you。〃

〃Oh；　don't　speak　of　that；〃　said　Breckon；　not　very　appositely。　　Presently
he　forced　a　laugh；　in　order　to　add；　with　lightness；　〃I　was　afraid　perhaps
I　had　given　you　all　some　reason　to　regret　it！〃

She　said；　〃I　was　afraid　you　would　think　thator　momma　wasand　I
couldn't　bear　to　have　you。〃

〃Well；　then；　I　won't。〃





XIX。

Breckon　had　answered　with　gayety；　but　his　happiness　was　something　beyond
gayety。　　He　had　really　felt　the　exclusion　from　the　Kentons　in　which　he
had　passed　the　day；　and　he　had　felt　it　the　more　painfully　because　he
liked　them　all。　　It　may　be　owned　that　he　liked　Ellen　best　from　the
beginning；　and　now　he　liked　her　better　than　ever；　but　even　in　the　day's
exile　he　had　not　ceased　to　like　each　of　them。　　They　were；　in　their　family
affection；　as　lovable　as　that　sort　of　selfishness　can　make　people。　　They
were　very　united　and　good　to　one　another。　　Lottie　herself；　except　in　her
most　lurid　moments；　was　good　to　her　brother　and　sister；　and　almost
invariably　kind　to　her　parents。　　She　would　not；　Breckon　saw；　have　brooked
much　meddling　with　her　flirtations　from　them；　but　as　they　did　not　offer
to　meddle；　she　had　no　occasion　to　grumble　on　that　score。　　She　grumbled
when　they　asked　her　to　do　things　for　Ellen；　but　she　did　them；　and　though
she　never　did　them　without　grumbling；　she　sometimes　did　them　without
being　asked。　　She　was　really　very　watchful　of　Ellen　when　it　would　least
have　been　expected；　and　sometimes　she　was　sweet。　　She　never　was　sweet
with　Boyne；　but　she　was　often　his　friend；　though　this　did　not　keep　her
from　turning　upon　him　at　the　first　chance　to　give　him　a　little　dig；　or　a
large　one；　for　that　matter。　　As　for　Boyne；　he　was　a　mass　of　helpless
sweetness；　though　he　did　not　know　it；　and　sometimes　took　himself　for　an
iceberg　when　he　was　merely　an　ice…cream　of　heroic　mould。　　He