the kentons-第36章

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afraid。　　I　don't　believe　he's　very　sorry　for　himself。〃

They　had　not　advised　with　Breckon；　and　he　did　not　feel　authorized　to　make
any　comment。　　He　seemed　preoccupied；　to　Mrs。　Kenton's　eye；　when　she
turned　it　upon　him　from　Trannel's　discomfited　back；　lessening　in　the
perspective；　and　he　answered　vaguely　to　her　overture　about　his　night's
rest。　　Lottie　never　made　any　conversation　with　Breckon；　and　she　now　left
him　to　himself；　with　some　remnants　of　the　disapproval　which　she　found　on
her　hands　after　crushing　Trannel。　　It　could　not　be　said　that　Breckon　was
aware　of　her　disapproval；　and　the　judge　had　no　apparent　consciousness　of
it。　　He　and　Breckon　tried　to　make　something　of　each　other；　but　failed；
and　it　all　seemed　a　very　defeating　sequel　to　Mrs。　Kenton　after　the
triumphal　glow　of　the　evening　before。　　When　Lottie　rose；　she　went　with
her；　alleging　her　wish　to　see　if　Boyne　had　eaten　his　breakfast。　　She
confessed；　to　Breckon's　kind　inquiry；　that　Boyne　did　not　seem　very　well；
and　that　she　had　made　him　take　his　breakfast　in　his　room；　and　she　did　not
think　it　necessary　to　own；　even　to　so　friendly　a　witness　as　Mr。　Breckon；
that　Boyne　was　ashamed　to　come　down；　and　dreaded　meeting　Trannel　so　much
that　she　was　giving　him　time　to　recover　his　self…respect　and　courage。

As　soon　as　she　and　Lottie　were　gone　Breckon　began；　rather　more　formidably
than　he　liked；　but　helplessly　so：　〃Judge　Kenton；　I　should　be　glad　of　a
few　moments　with　you　onon　an　importanton　a　matter　that　is　important
to　me。〃

〃Well；〃　said　the　judge；　cautiously。　　Whatever　was　coming；　he　wished　to
guard　himself　from　the　mistake　that　he　had　once　so　nearly　fallen　into；
and　that　still　made　him　catch　his　breath　to　think　of。　　〃How　can　I　be　of
use　to　you？〃

〃I　don't　know　that　you　can　be　of　any　useI　don't　know　that　I　ought　to
speak　to　you。　　But　I　thought　you　might　perhaps　save　me　fromsave　my
taking　a　false　step。〃

He　looked　at　Kenton　as　if　he　would　understand；　and　Kenton　supposed　that
he　did。　　He　said；　〃My　daughter　once　mentioned　your　wish　to　talk　with　me。〃

〃Your　daughter？〃　　Breckon　stared　at　him　in　stupefaction。

〃Yes；　Ellen。　　She　said　you　wished　to　consult　me　about　going　back　to　your
charge　in　New　York；　when　we　were　on　the　ship　together。　　But　I　don't　know
that　I'm　very　competent　to　give　advice　in　such〃

〃Oh！〃　　Breckon　exclaimed；　in　a　tone　of　immense　relief；　which　did　not
continue　itself　in　what　he　went　on　to　say。　　〃That！　　I've　quite　made　up　my
mind　to　go　back。〃　　He　stopped；　and　then　be　burst　out；　〃I　want　to　speak
with　you　about　her。〃　　The　judge　sat　steady；　still　resolute　not　to　give
himself　away；　and　the　young　man　scarcely　recovered　from　what　had　been　a
desperate　plunge　in　adding：　〃I　know　that　it's　usual　to　speak　with　her
with　the　lady　herself　first；　butI　don't　know！　　The　circumstances　are
peculiar。　　You　only　know　about　me　what　you've　seen　of　me；　and　I　would
rather　make　my　mistakes　in　the　order　that　seems　right　to　me；　although　it
isn't　just　the　American　way。〃

He　smiled　rather　piteously；　and　the　judge　said；　rather　encouragingly；
〃I　don't　quite　know　whether　I　follow　you。〃

Breckon　blushed；　and　sought　help　in　what　remained　of　his　coffee。　　〃The
way　isn't　easy　for　me。　　But　it's　this：　I　ask　your　leave　to　ask　Miss　Ellen
to　marry　me。〃　　The　worst　was　over　now；　and　looked　as　if　it　were　a　relief。　
〃She　is　the　most　beautiful　person　in　the　world　to　me；　and　the　best；
but　as　you　know　so　little　of　me；　I　thought　it　right　to　get　your　leaveto
tell　youtoto　That　is　all。〃　　He　fell　back　in　his　chair　and　looked　a
at　Kenton。

〃It　is　unusual；〃　the　judge　began。

〃Yes；　Yes；　I　know　that。　　And　for　that　reason　I　speak　first　to　you。　　I'll
be　ruled　by　you　implicitly。〃

〃I　don't　mean　that；〃Kenton　said。　　〃I　would　have　expected　that　you　would
speak　to　her　first。　　But　I　get　your　point　of　view；　and　I　must　say　I　think
you're　right。　　I　think　you　are　behavinghonorably。　　I　wish　that　every
one　was　like　you。　　But　I　can't　say　anything　now。　　I　must　talk　with　her
mother。　　My　daughter's　life　has　not　been　happy。　　I　can't　tell　you。　　But
as　far　as　I　am　concerned；　and　I　think　Mrs。　Kenton；　too；　I　would　be　glad
We　like　you　Mr。　Breckon。　　We　think　you　are　a　good　man。

〃Oh；　thank　you。　I'm　not　so　sure〃

〃We'd　risk　it。　　But　that　isn't　all。　　Will　you　excuse　me　if　I　don't　say
anything　more　just　yetand　if　I　leave　you？〃

〃Why；　certainly。〃　　The　judge　had　risen　and　pushed　back　his　chair；　and
Breckon　did　the　same。　　〃And　I　shallhear　from　you？〃

〃Why；　certainly；〃　said　the　judge　in　his　turn。

〃It　isn't　possible　that　you　put　him　off！〃　　his　wife　reproached　him；　when
he　told　what　had　passed　between　him　and　Breckon。　　〃Oh；　you　couldn't　have
let　him　think　that　we　didn't　want　him　for　her！　　Surely　you　didn't！〃

〃Will　you　get　it　into　your　head；〃　he　flamed　back；　〃that　he　hasn't　spoken
to　Ellen　yet；　and　I　couldn't　accept　him　till　she　had？〃

〃Oh　yes。　　I　forgot　that。〃　　Mrs。　Kenton　struggled　with　the　fact；　in　the
difficulty　of　realizing　so　strange　an　order　of　procedure。　　〃I　suppose
it's　his　being　educated　abroad　that　way。　　But；　do　go　back　to　him；　Rufus；
and　tell　him　that　of　course〃

〃I　will　do　nothing　of　the　kind；　Sarah！　　What　are　you　thinking　of？〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　know　what　I'm　thinking　of！　　I　must　see　Ellen；　I　suppose。　
I'll　go　to　her　now。　　Oh；　dear；　if　she　doesn'tif　she　lets　such　a　chance
slip　through　her　fingers　But　she's　quite　likely　to；　she's　so　obstinate！　
I　wonder　what　she'll　want　us　to　do。〃

She　fled　to　her　daughter's　room　and　found　Boyne　there；　sitting　beside　his
sister's　bed；　giving　her　a　detailed　account　of　his　adventure　of　the　day
before；　up　to　the　moment　Mr。　Breckon　met　him；　in　charge　of　the
detectives。　　Up　to　that　moment；　it　appeared　to　Boyne；　as　nearly　as　he
could　recollect；　that　he　had　not　broken　down；　but　had　behaved　himself
with　a　dignity　which　was　now　beginning　to　clothe　his　whole　experience。　
In　the　retrospect；　a　quiet　heroism　characterized　his　conduct；　and　at　the
moment　his　mother　entered　the　room　he　was　questioning　Ellen　as　to　her
impressions　of　his　bearing　when　she　first　saw　him　in　the　grasp　of　the
detectives。

His　mother　took　him　by　the　arm；　and　said；　〃I　want　to　speak　with　Ellen；
Boyne；〃　and　put　him　out　of　the　door。

Then　she　came　back　and　sat　down　in　his　chair。　〃Ellen。　　Mr。　Breckon　has
been　speaking　to　your　father。　　Do　you　know　what　about？〃

〃About　his　going　back　to　New　York？〃　the　girl　suggested。

Her　mother　kept　her　patience　with　difficulty。　　〃No；　not　about　that。　
About　you！　　He's　asked　your　fatherI　can't　understand　yet　why　he　did　it；
only　he's　so　delicate　and　honorable；　and　goodness　known　we　appreciate　it…
…whether　he　can　tell　you　thatthat〃　　It　was　not　possible　for　such　a
mother　as　Mrs。　Kenton　to　say　〃He　loves　you〃；　it　would　have　sounded　as　she
would　have　said；　too　sickish；　and　she　compromised　on：　〃He　likes　you；　and
wants　to　ask　you　whether　you　will　marry　him。　　And；　Ellen；〃　she　continued；
in　the　ample　silence　which　followed；　〃if　you　don't　say　you　will；　I　will
have　nothing　more　to　do　With　such　a　simpleton。　　I　have　always　felt　that
you　behaved　very　foolishly　about　Mr。　Bittridge；　but　I　hoped　that　when　you
grew　older　you　would　see　it　as　we　did；　andand　behave　differently。　　And
now；　if；　after　all　we've　been　through　with　you；　you　are　going　to　say　that
you　won't　have　Mr。　Breckon〃

Mrs。　Kenton　stopped　for　want　of　a　figure　that　would　convey　all　the
disaster　that　would　fall　upon　Ellen　in　such　an　event；　and　she　was　given
further　pause　when　the　girl　gently　answered；　〃I'm　not　going　to　say　that；
momma。〃

〃Then　what　in　the　world　are　you　going　to　say？〃　Mrs。　　Kenton　demanded。

Ellen　had　turned　her　face　away　on　the　pillow；　and　now　she　answered；
quietly；　〃When　Mr。　Breckon　asks　me　I　will　tell　him。〃

〃Well；　you　had　better！〃　　her　mother　threatened　in　return；　and　she　did　not
realize　the　falsity　of　her　position　till　she　reported　Ellen's　words　to
the　judge。

Well；　Sarah；　I　think　she　had　you　there；〃　he　said；　and　Mrs。　Kenton　then
said　that　she　did　not　care；　if　the　child　was　only　going　to　behave
sensibly　at　last；　and　she　did　believe　she　was。

〃Then　it's　all　right〃　said　the　judge；　and　he　took　up　the　Tuskingum
Intelligencer；　lying　till　then　unread　in　the　excitements　which　had
followed　its　arrival　the　day　before；　and　began　to　read　it。

Mrs。　　Kenton　sat　dreamily　watching　him；　with　her　hands　fallen　in　her　lap。　
She　suddenly　started　up；　with　the　cry；　〃Good　gracious！　What　are　we　all
thinking　of？〃

Kenton　stared　at　her　over　the　top　of　his　paper。　　〃How；　thinking　of？〃

〃Why　Mr。　Breckon！　　He　must　be　crazy　to　know　what　we've　decided；　poor
fellow！〃

〃Oh；〃　said　the　judge；　folding　the　Intelligencer　on　his　knee。　　〃I　had
forgotten。　　Somehow；　I　thought　it　was　all　settled。〃

Mrs；　Kenton　took　his　paper　from　him；　and　finished　folding　it。　　〃It　hasn't
begun　to　be　settled。　　You　must　go　and　let　him　know。〃

〃Won't　he　look　me　up？〃　　the　judge　suggested。

〃You　must　look　him　up。　　Go　at　once　dear！　　Think　how　anxious　he　must　be！〃

Kenton　was　not　sure　that　Breckon　looked　very　anxious　when　he　found　him　on
the　brick　promenade　before　the　Kurhaus；　apparently　absorbed　in　noting　the
convulsions　of　a　large；　round　German　lady　in　the　water；　who　must　have
supposed　herself　to　be　bathing。　　But　perhaps　the　young　man　did　not　see
her；　the　smile　on　his　face　was　too　vague　for　such　an　interest　when　he
turned　at　Kenton's　approaching　steps。

The　judge　hesitated　for　an　instant；　in　which　the　smile　left　Breckon's
face。　　〃I　believe　that's　all　right；　Mr。　Breckon；〃　he　said。　　〃You'll　find
Mrs。　Kenton　in　our　parlor；〃　and　then　the　two　men　parted；　with　an　〃Oh；
thank　you！〃　from　Breckon；　who　walked　back　towards　the　hotel；　and　left
Kenton　to　ponder　upon　the　German　lady；　as　soon　as　he　realized　that　she
was　not　a　barrel；　the　judge　continued　his　walk　along　the　promenade；
feeling　rather　ashamed。

Mrs。　Kenton　had　gone　to　Ellen's　room　again　when　she　had　got　the　judge　off
upon　his　mission。　　She　rather　flung　in　upon　her。　　〃Oh；　you　are　up！〃　she
apologized　to　Ellen's　back。　　The　girl's　face　was　towards　the　glass；　and
she　was　tilting　her　head　to　get　the　effect　of　the　hat　on　it；　which　she
now　took　off。

〃I　suppose　poppa's　gone　to　tell　him；〃　she　said；　sitting　tremulously　down。

〃Didn't　you　want　him　to？〃　　her　mother　asked；　stricken　a　little　at　sight
of　her　agitation。

〃Yes；　I　wanted　him　to；　but　that　doesn't　make　it　any　easier。　　It　makes　it
harder。　　Momma！〃

〃Well；　Ellen？〃

〃You　know　you've　got　to　tell　him；　first。〃

〃Tell　him？〃　　Mrs。　Kenton　repeated；　but　she　knew　what　Ellen　meant。

〃AboutMr。　Bittridge。　　All　about　it。　　Every　single　thing。　　About　his
kissing　me　that　night。〃

At　the　last　demand　Mrs。　Kenton　was　visibly　shaken　in　her　invisible　assent
to　the　girl's　wish。　　〃Don't　you　think；　Ellen；　that　you　had　better　tell
him　thatsome　time？〃

〃No；　now。　　And　you　must　tell　him。　　You　let　me　go　to　the　theatre　with
him。〃　　The　faintest　shadow　of　resentment　clouded　the　girl's　face；　but
still　Mrs。　Kenton；　thought　she　knew　her　own　guilt；　could　not　yield。

〃Why；　Ellen；〃　she　pleaded；　not　without　a　reproachful　sense　of　vulgarity
in　such　a　plea；　〃don't　you　suppose　HE　everkissed　any　one？〃

〃That　doesn't　concern　me；　momma；〃　said　Ellen；　without　a　trace　of
consciousness　that　she　was　saying　anything　uncommon。　　〃If　you　won't　tell
him；　then　that　ends　it。　　I　won't　see　him。〃