the kentons-第32章

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least；　he　was　not　wrong。　　〃Here　it　is　now。〃

He　put　the　miniature　in　Ellen's　hand。　　She　lifted　herself　on　her　elbow。　
〃Light　the　candle　and　let　me　see　it。〃

〃No；　no！〃　　he　entreated。　　〃It　might　wake　Lottie；　andand　Good…night；
Ellen。〃

〃Can　you　go　to　sleep　now；　Boyne？〃

〃Oh　yes。　　I'm　all　right。　　Good…night。〃

〃Good…night；　then。〃

Borne　stooped　over　and　kissed　her；　and　went　to　the　door。　　He　came　back
and　asked；　〃You　don't　think　it　was　silly；　or　anything；　for　me　to　get　it？〃

〃No；　indeed！　　It's　just　what　you　will　like　to　have　when　you　get　home。　
We've　all　seen　her　so　often。　　I'll　put　it　in　my　trunk；　and　nobody　shall
know　about　it　till　we're　safely　back　in　Tuskingum。〃

Boyne　sighed　deeply。　　〃Yes；　that's　what　I　meant。　　Good…night。〃

〃Good…night；　Boyne。〃

〃I　hope　I　haven't　waked　you　up　too　much？〃

〃Oh　no。　　I　can　get　to　sleep　easily　again。〃

〃Well；　good…night。〃　　Boyne　sighed　again；　but　not　so　deeply；　and　this　time
he　went　out。




XXII。

Mrs。　Kenton　woke　with　the　clear　vision　which　is　sometimes　vouchsafed　to
people　whose　eyes　are　holden　at　other　hours　of　the　day。　　She　had　heard
Boyne　opening　and　shutting　Ellen's　door；　and　her　heart　smote　her　that　he
should　have　gone　to　his　sister　with　whatever　trouble　he　was　in　rather
than　come　to　his　mother。　　It　was　natural　that　she　should　put　the　blame　on
her　husband；　and　〃Now；　Mr。　Kenton；〃　she　began；　with　an　austerity　of　voice
which　he　recognized　before　he　was　well　awake；　〃if　you　won't　take　Boyne
off　somewhere　to…day；　I　will。　　I　think　we　had　better　all　go。　　We　have
been　here　a　whole　fortnight；　and　we　have　got　thoroughly　rested；　and　there
is　no　excuse　for　our　wasting　our　time　any　longer。　　If　we　are　going　to　see
Holland；　we　had　better　begin　doing　it。〃

The　judge　gave　a　general　assent；　and　said　that　if　she　wanted　to　go　to
Flushing　he　supposed　he　could　find　some　garden…seeds　there；　in　the　flower
and　vegetable　nurseries；　which　would　be　adapted　to　the　climate　of
Tuskingum；　and　they　could　all　put　in　the　day　pleasantly；　looking　round
the　place。　　Whether　it　was　the　suggestion　of　Tuskingum　in　relation　to
Flushing　that　decided　her　against　the　place；　or　whether　she　had　really
meant　to　go　to　Leyden；　she　now　expressed　the　wish；　as　vividly　as　if　it
were　novel；　to　explore　the　scene　of　the　Pilgrims'　sojourn　before　they
sailed　for　Plymouth；　and　she　reproached　him　for　not　caring　about　the
place　when　they　both　used　to　take　such　an　interest　in　it　at　home。

〃Well；〃　said　the　judge；　〃if　I　were　at　home　I　should　take　an　interest　in
it　here。〃

This　provoked　her　to　a　silence　which　he　thought　it　best　to　break　in　tacit
compliance　with　her　wish；　and　he　asked；　〃Do　you　propose　taking　the　whole
family　and　the　appurtenances？　　We　shall　be　rather　a　large　party。〃

〃Ellen　would　wish　to　go；　and　I　suppose　Mr。　Breckon。　　We　couldn't　very
well　go　without　them。〃

〃And　how　about　Lottie　and　that　young　Trannel？〃

〃We　can't　leave　him　out；　very　well。　　I　wish　we　could。　　I　don't　like　him。〃

〃There's　nothing　easier　than　not　asking　him；　if　you　don't　want　him。〃

〃Yes；　there　is；　when　you've　got　a　girl　like　Lottie　to　deal　with。　　Quite
likely　she　would　ask　him　herself。　　We　must　take　him　because　we　can't
leave　her。〃

〃Yes；　I　reckon；〃　the　judge　acquiesced。

〃I'm　glad；〃　Mrs。　Kenton　said；　after　a　moment；　〃that　it　isn't　Ellen　he's
after；　it　almost　reconciles　me　to　his　being　with　Lottie　so　much。　　I　only
wonder　he　doesn't　take　to　Ellen；　he's　so　much　like　that〃

She　did　not　say　out　what　was　in　her　mind；　but　her　husband　knew。　　〃Yes；
I've　noticed　it。　　This　young　Breckon　was　quite　enough　so；　for　my　taste。　
I　don't　know　what　it　is　that　just　saves　him　from　it。〃

〃He's　good。　　You　could　tell　that　from　the　beginning。〃

They　went　off　upon　the　situation　that；　superficially　or　subliminally；
was　always　interesting　them　beyond　anything　in　the　world；　and　they　did
not　openly　recur　to　Mrs。　Kenton's　plan　for　the　day　till　they　met　their
children　at　breakfast。　　It　was　a　meal　at　which　Breckon　and　Trammel　were
both　apt　to　join　them；　where　they　took　it　at　two　of　the　tables　on　the
broad；　seaward　piazza　of　the　hotel　when　the　weather　was　fine。　　Both　the
young　men　now　applauded　her　plan；　in　their　different　sorts。　　It　was
easily　arranged　that　they　should　go　by　train　and　not　by　tram　from　The
Hague。　　The　train　was　chosen；　and　Mrs。　Kenton；　when　she　went　to　her　room
to　begin　the　preparations　for　a　day's　pleasure　which　constitute　so
distinctly　a　part　of　its　pain；　imagined　that　everything　was　settled。　　She
had　scarcely　closed　the　door　behind　her　when　Lottie　opened　it　and　shut　it
again　behind　her。

〃Mother；〃　she　said；　in　the　new　style　of　address　to　which　she　was
habituating　Mrs。　Kenton；　after　having　so　long　called　her　momma；　〃I　am　not
going　with　you。〃
　　　　　
〃Indeed　you　are；　then！〃　　her　mother　retorted。　　〃Do　you　think　I　would
leave　you　here　all　day　with　that　fellow？　　A　nice　talk　we　should　make！〃

〃You　are　perfectly　welcome　to　that　fellow；　mother；　and　as　he's　accepted
he　will　have　to　go　with　you；　and　there　won't　be　any　talk。　　But；　as　I
remarked　before；　I　am　not　going。〃

〃Why　aren't　you　going；　I　should　like　to　know？〃

〃Because　I　don't　like　the　company。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？　　Have　you　got　anything　against　Mr。　Breckon？〃

〃He's　insipid；　but　as　long　as　Ellen　don't　mind　it　I　don't　care。　　I　object
to　Mr。　Trannel！〃

〃Why？〃

I　don't　see　why　I　should　have　to　tell　you。　　If　I　said　I　liked　him　you
might　want　to　know；　but　it　seems　to　me　that　my　not　liking　him　is　my　not
liking　him　is　my　own　affair。〃　　There　was　a　kind　of　logic　in　this　that
silenced　Mrs。　Kenton　for　the　moment。　　In　view　of　her　advantage
Lottie　relented　so　far　as　to　add；　〃I've　found　out　something　about　him。〃

Mrs。　Kenton　was　imperative　in　her　alarm。　　〃What　is　it？〃　　she　demanded。

Lottie　answered；　obliquely：　〃Well；　I　didn't　leave　The　Hague　to　get　rid　of
them；　and　then　take　up　with　one　of　them　at　Scheveningen。〃

〃One　of　what？〃

〃COOK'S　TOURISTS；　if　you　must　know；　mother。　　Mr。　Trannel；　as　you　call
him；　is　a　Cook's　tourist；　and　that's　the　end　of　it。　　I　have　got　no　use
for　him　from　this　out。〃

Mrs。　Kenton　was　daunted；　and　not　for　the　first　time；　by　her　daughter's
superior　knowledge　of　life。　　She　could　put　Boyne　down　sometimes；　though
not　always；　when　be　attempted　to　impose　a　novel　code　of　manners　or　morals
upon　her；　but　she　could　not　cope　with　Lottie。　　In　the　present　case　she
could　only　ask；　〃Well？〃

〃Well；　they're　the　cheapest　of　the　cheap。　　He　actually　showed　me　his
coupons；　and　tried　to　put　me　down　with　the　idea　that　everybody　used　them。　
But　I　guess　he　found　it　wouldn't　work。　　He　said　if　you　were　not
personally　conducted　it　was　all　right。〃

〃Now；　Lottie；　you　have　got　to　tell　me　just　what　you　mean；〃　said　Mrs。
Kenton；　and　from　having　stood　during　this　parley；　she　sat　down　to　hear
Lottie　out　at　her　leisure。　　But　if　there　was　anything　more　difficult　than
for　Lottie　to　be　explicit　it　was　to　make　her　be　so；　and　in　the　end　Mrs。
Kenton　was　scarcely　wiser　than　she　was　at　the　beginning　to　her　daughter's
reasons。　　It　appeared　that　if　you　wanted　to　be　cheap　you　could　travel
with　those　coupons；　and　Lottie　did　not　wish　to　be　cheap；　or　have　anything
to　do　with　those　who　were。　　The　Kentons　had　always　held　up　their　heads；
and　if　Ellen　had　chosen　to　disgrace　them　with　Bittridge；　Dick　had　made　it
all　right；　and　she　at　least　was　not　going　to　do　anything　that　she　would
be　ashamed　of。　　She　was　going　to　stay　at　home；　and　have　her　meals　in　her
room　till　they　got　back。

Her　mother　paid　no　heed　to　her　repeated　declaration。　　〃Lottie；〃　she
asked；　with　the　heart…quake　that　the　thought　of　Richard's　act　always　gave
her　with　reference　to　Ellen；　〃have　you　ever　let　out　the　least　hint　of
that？〃

〃Of　course　I　haven't；〃　Lottie　scornfully　retorted。　　I　hope　I　know　what　a
crank　Ellen　is。〃

They　were　not　just　the　terms　in　which　Mrs。　Kenton　would　have　chosen　to　be
reassured；　but　she　was　glad　to　be　assured　in　any　terms。　　She　said；
vaguely：　〃I　believe　in　my　heart　that　I　will　stay　at　home；　too。　　All　this
has　given　me　a　bad　headache。〃

〃I　was　going　to　have　a　headache　myself；〃　said　Lottie；　with　injury。
〃But　I　suppose　I　can　get　on　along　without。　　I　can　just　simply　say　I'm　not
going。　　If　he　proposes　to　stay；　too；　I　can　soon　settle　that。〃

〃The　great　difficulty　will　be　to　get　your　father　to　go。〃

〃You　can　make　Ellen　make　him；〃　Lottie　suggested。

〃That　is　true；〃　said　Mrs。　Kenton；　with　such　increasing　absence　that　her
daughter　required　of　her：

〃Are　you　staying　on　my　account？〃

〃I　think　you　had　better　not　be　left　alone　the　whole　day。　　But　I　am　not
staying　on　your　account。　　I　don't　believe　we　had　so　many　of　us　better　go。　
It　might　look　a　little　pointed。〃

Lottie　laughed　harshly。　　〃I　guess　Mr。　Breckon　wouldn't　see　the　point；
he's　so　perfectly　gone。〃

〃Do　you　really　believe　it；　Lottie？〃　　Mrs。　Kenton　entreated；　with　a　sudden
tenderness　for　her　younger　daughter　such　as　she　did　not　always　feel。

〃I　should　think　anybody　would　believe　itanybody　but　Ellen。〃

〃Yes；〃　Mrs。　Kenton　dreamily　assented。

Lottie　made　her　way　to　the　door。　　〃Well；　if　you　do　stay；　mother；　I'm　not
going　to　have　you　hanging　round　me　all　day。　　I　can　chaperon　myself。〃

〃Lottie；〃　her　mother　tried　to　stay　her；　〃I　wish　you　would　go。　　I　don't
believe　that　Mr。　Trannel　will　be　much　of　an　addition。　　He　will　be　on　your
poor　father's　hands　all　day；　or　else　Ellen's；　and　if　you　went　you　could
help　off。〃

〃Thank　you；　mother。　　I've　had　quite　all　I　want　of　Mr。　Trannel。　　You　can
tell　him　he　needn't　go；　if　you　want　to。〃

Lottie　at　least　did　not　leave　her　mother　to　make　her　excuses　to　the　party
when　they　met　for　starting。　　Mrs。　Kenton　had　deferred　her　own　till　she
thought　it　was　too　late　for　her　husband　to　retreat；　and　then　bunglingly
made　them；　with　so　much　iteration　that　it　seemed　to　her　it　would　have
been　far　less　pointed；　as　concerned　Mr。　Breckon；　if　she　had　gone。　　Lottie
sunnily　announced　that　she　was　going　to　stay　with　her　mother；　and　did　not
even　try　to　account　for　her　defection　to　Mr。　Trannel。

〃What's　the　matter　with　my　staying；　too？〃　　he　asked。　　〃It　seems　to　me
there　are　four　wheels　to　this　coach　now。〃

He　had　addressed　his　misgiving　more　to　Lottie　than　the　rest；　but　with　the
same　sunny　indifference　to　the　consequence　for　others　that　she　had　put　on
in　stating　her　decision；　she　now　discharged　herself　from　further
responsibility　by　turning　on　her　heel　and　leaving　it　with　the　party
generally。　　In　the　circumstances　Mr。　Trannel　had　no　choice　but　to　go；
and　he　was　supported；　possibly；　by　the　hope　of　taking　it　out　of　Lottie
some　other　time。

It　was　more　difficult　for　Mrs。　Kenton　to　get　rid　of　the　judge；　but　an
inscrutable　frown　goes　far　in　such　exigencies。　　It　seems　to　explain；　and
it　certainly　warns；　and　the　husband　on　whom　it　is　bent　never　knows；　even
after　the　longest　experience；　whether　he　had　better　inquire　further。　
Usually　he　decides　that　he　had　better　not；　and　Judge　Kenton　went　off
towards　the　tram　with　Boyne　in　the　cloud　of　mystery　which　involved　them
both　as　to　Mrs。　Kenton's　meaning。




XXIII。


Trannel　attached　himself　as　well　as　he　could　to　Breckon　and　Ellen；　and
Breckon　had　an　opportunity　not　fully　offered　him　before　to　note　a
likeness　between　himself　and　a　fellow…man　whom　he　was　aware　of　not
liking；　though　he　tri