the kentons-第29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！


the　sands　and　dream。　　I'll　love　to　see　her。〃

The　sitting　on　the　sand　was　a　survival　of　Mr。　Kenton's　preoccupations　of
the　sea…side。　　As　a　mater　of　fact；　Ellen　was　at　that　moment　sitting　in
one　of　the　hooked　wicker　arm…chairs　which　were　scattered　over　the　whole
vast　beach　like　a　growth　of　monstrous　mushrooms；　and；　confronting　her　in
cosey　proximity；　Breckon　sat　equally　hidden　in　another　windstuhl。　　Her
father　and　her　mother　were　able　to　keep　them　placed；　among　the　multitude
of　windsiuhls；　by　the　presence　of　Lottie；　who　hovered　near　them；　and；
with　Boyne；　fended　off　the　demure；　wicked…looking　little　Scheveningen
girls。　　On　a　smaller　scale　these　were　exactly　like　their　demure；　wicked…
looking　Scheveningen　mothers；　and　they　approached　with　knitting　in　their
hands；　and　with　large　stones　folded　in　their　aprons；　which　they　had
pilfered　from　the　mole；　and　were　trying　to　sell　for　footstools。　　The
windstuhl　men　and　they　were　enemies；　and　when　Breckon　bribed　them　to　go
away；　the　windstuhl　men　chased　them；　and　the　little　girls　ran；　making
mouths　at　Boyne　over　their　shoulders。　　He　scorned　to　notice　them；　but　he
was　obliged　to　report　the　misconduct　of　Lottie；　who　began　making　eyes　at
the　Dutch　officers　as　soon　as　she　could　feel　that　Ellen　was　safely　off
her　hands。　　She　was　the　more　exasperating　and　the　more　culpable　to　Boyne；
because　she　had　asked　him　to　walk　up　the　beach　with　her；　and　had　then
made　the　fraternal　promenade　a　basis　of　operations　against　the　Dutch
military。　　She　joined　her　parents　in　ignoring　Boyne's　complaints；　and
continued　to　take　credit　for　all　the　pleasant　facts　of　the　situation；　she
patronized　her　family　as　much　for　the　table　d'hote　at　luncheon　as　for　the
comfort　of　their　rooms。　　She　was　able　to　assure　them　that　there　was　not　a
Cook's　tourist　in　the　hotel；　where　there　seemed　to　be　nearly　every　other
kind　of　fellow…creature。　　At　the　end　of　the　first　week　she　had
acquaintance　of　as　many　nationalities　as　she　could　reach　in　their　native
or　acquired　English；　in　all　the　stages　of　haughty　toleration；　vivid
intimacy；　and　cold　exhaustion。　　She　had　a　faculty　for　getting　through
with　people；　or　of　ceasing　to　have　any　use　for　them；　which　was　perhaps
her　best　safeguard　in　her　adventurous　flirting；　while　the　simple　aliens
were　still　in　the　full　tide　of　fancied　success；　Lottie　was　sick　of　them
all；　and　deep　in　an　indiscriminate　correspondence　with　her　young　men　in
Tuskingum。

The　letters　which　she　had　invited　from　these　while　still　in　New　York
arrived　with　the　first　of　those　readdressed　from　the　judge's　London
banker。　　She　had　more　letters　than　all　the　rest　of　the　family　together；
and　counted　a　half…dozen　against　a　poor　two　for　her　sister。　　Mrs。　Kenton
cared　nothing　about　Lottie's　letters；　but　she　was　silently　uneasy　about
the　two　that　Ellen　carelessly　took。　　She　wondered　who　could　be　writing　to
Ellen；　especially　in　a　cover　bearing　a　handwriting　altogether　strange　to
her。

〃It　isn't　from　Bittridge；　at　any　rate；〃　she　said　to　her　husband；　in　the
speculation　which　she　made　him　share。　　〃I　am　always　dreading　to　have　her
find　out　what　Richard　did。　　It　would　spoil　everything；　I'm　afraid；　and
now　everything　is　going　so　well。　　I　do　wish　Richard　hadn't；　though；　of
course；　he　did　it　for　the　best。　　Who　do　you　think　has　been　writing　to
her？〃

〃Why　don't　you　ask　her？〃

〃I　suppose　she　will　tell　me　after　a　while。　　I　don't　like　to　seem　to　be
following　her　up。　　One　was　from　Bessie　Pearl；　I　think。〃

Ellen　did　not　speak　of　her　letters　to　her　mother；　and　after　waiting　a　day
or　two；　Mrs。　Kenton　could　not　refrain　from　asking　her。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
〃Oh；　I　forgot；〃　said　Ellen。　　〃I　haven't　read　them　yet。〃

〃Haven't　read　them！〃　　said　Mrs。　Kenton。　　Then；　after　reflection；　she
added；　〃You　are　a　strange　girl；　Ellen；〃　and　did　not　venture　to　say　more。

〃I　suppose　I　thought　I　should　have　to　answer　them；　and　that　made　me
careless。　　But　I　will　read　them。〃　　Her　mother　was　silent；　and　presently
Ellen　added：　〃I　hate　to　think　of　the　past。　　Don't　you；　momma？〃

〃It　is　certainly　very　pleasant　here；〃　said　Mrs。　Kenton；　cautiously。　
〃You're　enjoying　yourselfI　mean；　you　seem　to　be　getting　so　much
stronger。〃

〃Why；　momma；　why　do　you　talk　as　if　I　had　been　sick？〃　　Ellen　asked。

〃I　mean　you're　so　much　interested。〃

〃Don't　I　go　about　everywhere；　like　anybody？〃　　Ellen　pursued；　ignoring　her
explanation。

〃Yes；　you　certainly　do。　　Mr。　Breckon　seems　to　like　going　about。〃

Ellen　did　not　respond　to　the　suggestion　except　to　say：　〃We　go　into　all
sorts　of　places。　　This　morning　we　went　up　on　that　schooner　that's　drawn
up　on　the　beach；　and　the　old　man　who　was　there　was　very　pleasant。
I　thought　it　was　a　wreck；　but　Mr。　Breckon　says　they　are　always　drawing
their　ships　that　way　up　on　the　sand。　　The　old　man　was　patching　some　of
the　wood…work；　and　he　told　Mr。　Breckonhe　can　speak　a　little　Dutchthat
they　were　going　to　drag　her　down　to　the　water　and　go　fishing　as　soon　as
he　was　done。　　He　seemed　to　think　we　were　brother　and　sister。〃　　She
flushed　a　little；　and　then　she　said：　〃I　believe　I　like　the　dunes　as　well
as　anything。　　Sometimes　when　those　curious　cold　breaths　come　in　from　the
sea　we　climb　up　in　the　little　hollows　on　the　other　side　and　sit　there　out
of　the　draft。　　Everybody　seems　to　do　it。〃

Apparently　Ellen　was　submitting　the　propriety　of　the　fact　to　her　mother；
who　said：　〃Yes；　it　seems　to　be　quite　the　same　as　it　is　at　home。　　I　always
supposed　that　it　was　different　with　young　people　here。　　There　is
certainly　no　harm　in　it。〃

Ellen　went　on；　irrelevantly。　　〃I　like　to　go　and　look　at　the　Scheveningen
women　mending　the　nets　on　the　sand　back　of　the　dunes。　　They　have　such
good　gossiping　times。　　They　shouted　to　us　last　evening；　and　then　laughed
when　they　saw　us　watching　them。　　When　they　got　through　their　work　they
got　up　and　stamped　off　so　strong；　with　their　bare；　red　arms　folded　into
their　aprons；　and　their　skirts　sticking　out　so　stiff。　　Yes；　I　should　like
to　be　like　them。〃

〃You；　Ellen！〃

〃Yes；　why　not？〃

Mrs。　Kenton　found　nothing　better　to　answer　than；

〃They　were　very　material　looking。〃

〃They　are　very　happy　looking。　　They　live　in　the　present。　　That　is　what　I
should　like：　living　in　the　present；　and　not　looking　backwards　or
forwards。　　After　all；　the　present　is　the　only　life　we've　got；　isn't　it？〃

〃I　suppose　you　may　say　it　is；〃　Mrs。　Kenton　admitted；　not　knowing　just
where　the　talk　was　leading；　but　dreading　to　interrupt　it。

〃But　that　isn't　the　Scheveningen　woman's　only　ideal。　　Their　other　ideal
is　to　keep　the　place　clean。　　Saturday　afternoon　they　were　all　out
scrubbing　the　brick　sidewalks；　and　clear　into　the　middle　of　the　street。　
We　were　almost　ashamed　to　walk　over　the　nice　bricks；　and　we　picked　out　as
many　dirty　places　as　we　could　find。〃

Ellen　laughed；　with　a　light…hearted　gayety　that　was　very　strange　to　her；
and　Mrs。　Kenton；　as　she　afterwards　told　her　husband；　did　not　know　what　to
think。

〃I　couldn't　help　wondering；〃　she　said；　〃whether　the　poor　child　would　have
liked　to　keep　on　living　in　the　present　a　month　ago。〃

〃Well；　I'm　glad　you　didn't　say　so；〃　the　judge　answered。




XX。

From　the　easy　conquest　of　the　men　who　looked　at　her　Lottie　proceeded　to
the　subjection　of　the　women。　　It　would　have　been　more　difficult　to　put
these　down；　if　the　process　had　not　been　so　largely；　so　almost　entirely
subjective。　　As　it　was；　Lottie　exchanged　snubs　with　many　ladies　of　the
continental　nationalities　who　were　never　aware　of　having　offered　or
received　offence。　　In　some　cases；　when　they　fearlessly　ventured　to　speak
with　her；　they　behaved　very　amiable；　and　seemed　to　find　her　conduct
sufficiently　gracious　in　return。　　In　fact；　she　was　approachable　enough；
and　had　no　shame；　before　Boyne；　in　dismounting　from　the　high　horse　which
she　rode　when　alone　with　him；　and　meeting　these　ladies　on　foot；　at　least
half…way。　　She　made　several　of　them　acquainted　with　her　mother；　who；
after　a　timorous　reticence；　found　them　very　conversable；　with　a　range　of
topics；　however；　that　shocked　her　American　sense　of　decorum。　　One　Dutch
lady　talked　with　such　manly　freedom；　and　with　such　untrammelled　intimacy；
that　she　was　obliged　to　send　Boyne　and　Lottie　about　their　business；　upon
an　excuse　that　was　not　apparent　to　the　Dutch　lady。　　She　only　complimented
Mrs。　Kenton　upon　her　children　and　their　devotion　to　each　other；　and　when
she　learned　that　Ellen　was　also　her　daughter；　ventured　the　surmise　she
was　not　long　married。

〃It　isn't　her　husband；〃　Mrs。　Kenton　explained；　with　inward　trouble。　
〃It's　just　a　gentleman　that　came　over　with　us；〃　and　she　went　with　her
trouble　to　her　own　husband　as　soon　as　she　could。

〃I'm　afraid　it　isn't　the　custom　to　go　around　alone　with　young　men　as　much
as　Ellen　thinks；〃　she　suggested。

〃He　ought　to　know；〃　said　the　judge。　　〃I　don't　suppose　he　would　if　it
wasn't。〃

〃That　is　true；〃　Mrs。　Kenton　owned；　and　for　the　time　she　put　her
misgivings　away。

〃So　long　as　we　do　nothing　wrong；〃　the　judge　decided；　〃I　don't　see　why　we
should　not　keep　to　our　own　customs。〃

〃Lottie　says　they're　not　ours；　in　New　York。〃

〃Well；　we　are　not　in　New　York　now。〃

They　had　neither　of　them　the　heart　to　interfere　with　Ellen's　happiness；
for；　after　all；　Breckon　was　careful　enough　of　the　appearances；　and　it　was
only　his　being　constantly　with　Ellen　that　suggested　the　Dutch　lady's
surmise。　　In　fact；　the　range　of　their　wanderings　was　not　beyond　the
dunes；　though　once　they　went　a　little　way　on　one　of　the　neatly　bricked
country　roads　that　led　towards　The　Hague。　　As　yet　there　had　been　no
movement　in　any　of　the　party　to　see　the　places　that　lie　within　such　easy
tram…reach　of　The　Hague；　and　the　hoarded　interest　of　the　past　in　their
keeping。　　Ellen　chose　to　dwell　in　the　actualities　which　were　an
enlargement　of　her　own　present；　and　Lottie's　active　spirit　found
employment　enough　in　the　amusements　at　the　Kurhaus。　　She　shopped　in　the
little　bazars　which　make　a　Saratoga　under　the　colonnades　fronting　two
sides　of　the　great　space　before　the　hotel；　and　she　formed　a　critical　and
exacting　taste　in　music　from　a　constant　attendance　at　the　afternoon
concerts；　it　is　true　that　during　the　winter　in　New　York　she　had　cast
forever　behind　her　the　unsophisticated　ideals　of　Tuskingum　in　the　art；　so
that　from　the　first　she　was　able　to　hold　the　famous　orchestra　that　played
in　the　Kurhaus　concert…room　up　to　the　highest　standard。　　She　had　no　use
for　anybody　who　had　any　use　for　rag…time；　and　she　was　terribly　severe
with　a　young　American；　primarily　of　Boyne's　acquaintance；　who　tried　to
make　favor　with　her　by　asking　about　the　latest　coon…songs。　　She　took　the
highest　ethical　ground　with　him　about　tickets　in　a　charitable　lottery
which　he　had　bought　from　the　portier；　but　could　not　move　him　on　the　lower
level　which　he　occupied。　　He　offered　to　give　her　the　picture　which　was
the　chief　prize；　in　case　he　won　it；　and　she　assured　him　beforehand　that
she　should　not　take　it。　　She　warned　Boyne　against　hin：；　under　threats　of
exposure　to　their　mother；　as　not　a　good　influence；　but　one　afternoon；
when　the　young　Queen　of　Holland　came　to　the　concert　with　the　queen…
mother；　Lottie　cast　her　prejudices　to　the　winds　in　accepting　the　places
which　the　wicked　fellow…countryman　offered　Boyne　and　herself；　when　they
had　fai