the kentons-第31章

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then　she　must　have　left　the　larger　half　of　her　divided　mind　with　Ellen；
not　to　speak　of　Lottie；　who　refused　to　be　a　party　to　any　such　excursion。　
Mrs。　Kenton　felt　the　disappointment　and　grieved　at　it；　but　not　without
hope　of　repairing　it　later；　and　she　did　not　cease　from　entreating　the
judge　to　do　what　he　could　at　once　towards　fulfilling　the　desires　she
postponed。　Once　she　prevailed　with　him；　and　really　got　him　and　Boyne　off
for　a　day；　but　they　came　back　early；　with　signs　of　having　bored　each
other　intolerably；　and　after　that　it　was　Boyne；　as　much　as　his　father；
who　relucted　from　joint　expeditions。　　Boyne　did　not　so　much　object　to
going　alone；　and　his　father　said　it　was　best　to　let　him；　though　his
mother　had　her　fears　for　her　youngest。　　He　spent　a　good　deal　of　his　time
on　the　trams　between　Scheveningen　and　The　Hague；　and　he　was　understood　to
have　explored　the　capital　pretty　thoroughly。　　In　fact；　he　did　go　about
with　a　valet　de　place；　whom　he　got　at　a　cheap　rate；　and　with　whom　he
conversed　upon　the　state　of　the　country　and　its　political　affairs。　　The
valet　said　that　the　only　enemy　that　Holland　could　fear　was　Germany；　but
an　invasion　from　that　quarter　could　be　easily　repulsed　by　cutting　the
dikes　and　drowning　the　invaders。　　The　sea；　he　taught　Boyne；　was　the　great
defence　of　Holland；　and　it　was　a　waste　of　money　to　keep　such　an　army　as
the　Dutch　had；　but　neither　the　sea　nor　the　sword　could　drive　out　the
Germans　if　once　they　insidiously　married　a　Prussian　prince　to　the　Dutch
Queen。

There　seemed　to　be　no　getting　away　from　the　Queen；　for　Boyne。　　The　valet
not　only　talked　about　her；　as　the　pleasantest　subject　which　he　could
find；　but　he　insisted　upon　showing　Boyne　all　her　palaces。　　He　took　him
into　the　Parliament　house；　and　showed　him　where　she　sat　while　the　queen…
mother　read　the　address　from　the　throne。　　He　introduced　him　at　a　bazar
where　the　shop…girl　who　spoke　English　better　than　Boyne；　or　at　least
without　the　central　Ohio　accent；　wanted　to　sell　him　a　miniature　of　the
Queen　on　porcelain。　　She　said　the　Queen　was　such　a　nice　girl；　and　she　was
herself　such　a　nice　girl　that　Boyne　blushed　a　little　in　looking　at　her。　
He　bought　the　miniature；　and　then　he　did　not　know　what　to　do　with　it；　if
any　of　the　family；　if　Lottie；　found　out　that　he　had　it；　or　that　Trannel；
he　should　have　no　peace　any　more。　He　put　it　in　his　pocket；　provisionally；
and　when　he　came　giddily　out　of　the　shop　he　felt　himself　taken　by　the
elbow　and　placed　against　the　wall　by　the　valet；　who　said　the　queens　were
coming。　　They　drove　down　slowly　through　the　crowded；　narrow　street；
bowing　right　and　left　to　the　people　flattened　against　the　shops；　and
again　Boyne　saw　her　so　near　that　he　could　have　reached　out　his　hand　and
almost　touched　hers。

The　consciousness　of　this　was　so　strong　in　him　that　he　wondered　whether
he　had　not　tried　to　do　so。　　If　he　had　he　would　have　been　arrested
he　knew　that；　and　so　he　knew　that　he　had　not　done　it。　　He　knew　that　he
imagined　doing　so　because　it　would　be　so　awful　to　have　done　it；　and　he
imagined　being　in　love　with　her　because　it　would　be　so　frantic。　　At　the
same　time　he　dramatized　an　event　in　which　he　died　for　her；　and　she　became
aware　of　his　hopeless　passion　at　the　last　moment；　while　the　anarchist
from　whom　he　had　saved　her　confessed　that　the　bomb　had　been　meant　for
her。　　Perhaps　it　was　a　pistol。

He　escaped　from　the　valet　as　soon　as　he　could；　and　went　back　to
Scheveningen　limp　from　this　experience；　but　the　queens　were　before　him。　
They　had　driven　down　to　visit　the　studio　of　a　famous　Dutch　painter　there；
and　again　the　doom　was　on　Boyne　to　press　forward　with　the　other
spectators　and　wait　for　the　queens　to　appear　and　get　into　their　carriage。　
The　young　Queen's　looks　were　stamped　in　Boyne's　consciousness；　so　that　he
saw　her　wherever　he　turned；　like　the　sun　when　one　has　gazed　at　it。　　He
thought　how　that　Trannel　had　said　he　ought　to　hand　her　into　her　carriage；
and　he　shrank　away　for　fear　he　should　try　to　do　so；　but　he　could　not
leave　the　place　till　she　had　come　out　with　the　queenmother　and　driven
off。　　Then　he　went　slowly　and　breathlessly　into　the　hotel；　feeling　the
Queen's　miniature　in　his　pocket。　　It　made　his　heart　stand　still；　and　then
bound　forward。　　He　wondered　again　what　he　should　do　with　it。　　If　he　kept
it；　Lottie　would　be　sure　to　find　it；　and　he　could　not　bring　himself　to
the　sacrilege　of　destroying　it。　　He　thought　he　would　walk　out　on　the
breakwater　as　far　as　he　could　and　throw　it　into　the　sea；　but　when　he　got
to　the　end　of　the　mole　he　could　not　do　so。　　He　decided　that　he　would　give
it　to　Ellen　to　keep　for　him；　and　not　let　Lottie　see　it；　or　perhaps　he
might　pretend　he　had　bought　it　for　her。　　He　could　not　do　that；　though；
for　it　would　not　be　true；　and　if　he　did　he　could　not　ask　her　to　keep　it
from　Lottie。

At　dinner　Mr。　Trannel　told　him　he　ought　to　have　been　there　to　see　the
Queen；　that　she　had　asked　especially　for　him；　and　wanted　to　know　if　they
had　not　sent　up　her　card　to　him。　　Boyne　meditated　an　apt　answer　through
all　the　courses；　but　he　had　not　thought　of　one　when　they　had　come　to　the
'corbeille　de　fruits'；　and　he　was　forced　to　go　to　bed　without　having
avenged　himself。

In　taking　rooms　for　her　family　at　the　hotel；　Lottie　had　arranged　for　her
emancipation　from　the　thraldom　of　rooming　with　Ellen。　　She　said　that　had
gone　on　long　enough；　if　she　was　grown　up　at　all；　she　was　grown　up　enough
to　have　a　room　of　her　own；　and　her　mother　had　yielded　to　reasoning　which
began　and　ended　with　this　position。　　She　would　have　interfered　so　far　as
to　put　Lottie　into　the　room　next　her；　but　Lottie　said　that　if　Boyne　was
the　baby　he　ought　to　be　next　his　mother；　Ellen　might　come　next　him；　but
she　was　going　to　have　the　room　that　was　furthest　from　any　implication　of
the　dependence　in　which　she　had　languished；　and　her　mother　submitted
again。　　Boyne　was　not　sorry；　there　had　always　been　hours　of　the　night
when　he　felt　the　need　of　getting　at　his　mother　for　reassurance　as　to
forebodings　which　his　fancy　conjured　up　to　trouble　him　in　the　wakeful
dark。　　It　was　understood　that　he　might　freely　do　this；　and　though　the
judge　inwardly　fretted；　he　could　not　deny　the　boy　the　comfort　of　his
mother's　encouraging　love。　　Boyne's　visits　woke　him；　but　he　slept　the
better　for　indulging　in　the　young　nerves　that　tremor　from　impressions
against　which　the　old　nerves　are　proof。　　But　now；　in　the　strange　fatality
which　seemed　to　involve　him；　Boyne　could　not　go　to　his　mother。　　It　was
too　weirdly　intimate；　even　for　her；　besides；　when　he　had　already　tried　to
seek　her　counsel　she　had　ignorantly　repelled　him。

The　night　after　his　day　in　The　Hague；　when　he　could　bear　it　no　longer；　he
put　on　his　dressing…gown　and　softly　opened　Ellen's　door；　awake；　Ellen？〃　
he　whispered。

〃Yes；　What　is　it；　Boyne〃　her　gentle　voice　asked。

〃He　came　and　sat　down　by　her　bed　and　stole　his　hand　into　hers；　which　she
put　out　to　him。　　The　watery　moonlight　dripped　into　the　room　at　the　edges
of　the　shades；　and　the　long　wash　of　the　sea　made　itself　regularly　heard
on　the　sands。

〃Can't　you　sleep？〃　　Ellen　asked　again。　　〃Are　you　homesick？〃

〃Not　exactly　that。　　But　it　does　seem　rather　strange　for　us　to　be　off　here
so　far；　doesn't　it？〃

〃Yes；　I　don't　see　how　I　can　forgive　myself　for　making　you　come；〃　said
Ellen；　but　her　voice　did　not　sound　as　if　she　were　very　unhappy。

〃You　couldn't　help　it；〃　said　Boyne；　and　the　words　suggested　a　question　to
him。　　〃Do　you　believe　that　such　things　are　ordered；　Ellen？〃

〃Everything　is　ordered；　isn't　it？〃

〃I　suppose　so。　　And　if　they　are；　we're　not；　to　blame　for　what　happens。〃

〃Not　if　we　try　to　do　right。〃

〃Of　course。　　The　Kentons　always　do　that；〃　said　Boyne；　with　the　faith　in
his　family　that　did　not　fail　him　in　the　darkest　hour。　　〃But　what　I　mean
is　that　if　anything　comes　on　you　that　you　can't　foresee　and　you　can't　get
out　of〃　The　next　step　was　not　clear；　and　Boyne　paused。　　He　asked；

〃Do　you　think　that　we　can　control　our　feelings；　Ellen？〃

〃About　what？〃

〃Well；　about　persons　that　we　like。〃　　He　added；　for　safety；　〃Or　dislike。〃

〃I'm　afraid　not；〃　said　Ellen；　sadly；　〃We　ought　to　like　persons　and
dislike　them　for　some　good　reason；　but　we　don't。〃

〃Yes；　that's　what　I　mean；〃　said　Borne；　with　a　long　breath。　　〃Sometimes　it
seems　like　a　kind　of　possession；　doesn't　it？〃

〃It　seems　more　like　that　when　we　like　them；〃　Ellen　said。

〃Yes；　that's　what　I　mean。　　If　a　person　was　to　take　a　fancy　to　some　one
that　was　above　him；　that　was　richer；　or　older；　he　wouldn't　be　to　blame
for　it；　would　he？〃

〃Was　that　what　you　wanted　to　ask　me　about？〃

Borne　hesitated。　　〃Yes〃　he　said。　　He　was　in　for　it　now。

Ellen　had　not　noticed　Boyne's　absorption　with　Miss　Rasmith　on　the　ship；
but　she　vaguely　remembered　hearing　Lottie　tease　him　about　her；　and　she
said　now；　〃He　wouldn't　be　to　blame　for　it　if　he　couldn't　help　it；　but　if
the　person　was　much　older　it　would　be　a　pity！〃

〃Uh；　she　isn't　so　very　much　older；〃　said　Borne；　more　cheerfully　than　he
had　spoken　before。

〃Is　it　somebody　that　you　have　taken　a　fancy　to　Borne？〃

〃I　don't　know；　Ellen。　　That's　what　makes　it　so　kind　of　awful。　　I　can't
tell　whether　it's　a　real　fancy；　or　I　only　think　it　is。　　Sometimes　I　think
it　is；　and　sometimes　I　think　that　I　think　so　because　I　am　afraid　to
believe　it。　　Do　you　under　Ellen？〃

〃It　seems　to　me　that　I　do。　　But　you　oughtn't　to　let　your　fancy　run　away
with　you；　Boyne。　　What　a　queer　boy！〃

〃It's　a　kind　of　fascination；　I　suppose。　　But　whether　it's　a　real　fancy　or
an　unreal　one；　I　can't　get　away　from　it。〃

〃Poor　boy！〃　　said　his　sister。

〃Perhaps　it's　those　books。　　Sometimes　I　think　it　is；　and　I　laugh　at　the
whole　idea；　and　then　again　it's　so　strong　that　I　can't　get　away　from　it。
Ellen！〃

〃Well；　Boyne？〃

I　could　tell　you　who　it　is；　if　you　think　that　would　do　any　goodif　you
think　it　would　help　me　to　see　it　in　the　true　light；　or　you　could　help　me
more　by　knowing　who　it　is　than　you　can　now。〃

〃I　hope　it　isn't　anybody　that　you　can't　respect；　Boyne？〃

〃No；　indeed！　　It's　somebody　you　would　never　dream　of。〃

〃Well？〃　　Ellen　was　waiting　for　him　to　speak；　but　he　could　not　get　the
words　out；　even　to　her。

〃I　guess　I'll　tell　you　some　other　time。　　Maybe　I　can　get　over　it　myself。〃

〃It　would　be　the　best　way　if　you　could。〃

He　rose　and　left　her　bedside；　and　then　he　came　back。　　〃　Ellen；　I've　got
something　that　I　wish　you　would　keep　for　me。〃

〃What　is　it？　　Of　course　I　will。〃

〃Well；　it'ssomething　I　don't　want　you　to　let　Lottie　know　I've　got。
She　tells　that　Mr。　Trannel　everything；　and　then　he　wants　to　make　fun。
Do　you　think　he's　so　very　witty？〃

〃I　can't　help　laughing　at　some　things　he　says。〃

〃I　suppose　he　is；〃　Boyne　ruefully　admitted。　　〃But　that　doesn't　make　you
like　him　any　better。　　Well；　if　you　won't　tell　Lottie；　I'll　give　it　to　you
now。〃

〃I　won't　tell　anything　that　you　don't　want　me　to；　Boyne。〃

〃It's　nothing。　　It's　just…a　picture　of　the　Queen　on　porcelain；　that　I　got
in　The　Hague。　　The　guide　took　me　into　the　store；　and　I　thought　I　ought　to
get　something。〃

〃Oh；　that's　very　nice；　Boyne。　　I　do　like　the　Queen　so　much。　　She's　so
sweet！〃

〃Yes；　isn't　she？〃　　said　Boyne；　glad　of　Ellen's　approval。　　So　far；　at
least；　he　was　not　wrong。　　〃Here　it　is　now。〃

He　put　the　miniature　in