the kentons-第7章

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paper　for　you。　　But　I'm　glad　I　found　you；　and　if　you　won't　give　me　any
reason　for　not　wanting　me　here；　I　can　give　it　myself；　and　I　think　I　can
make　out　a　very　good　case　for　you。〃　　Kenton　quivered　in　anticipation　of
some　mention　of　Ellen；　and　Bittridge　smiled　as　if　he　understood。　　But　he
went　on　to　say：　〃I　know　that　there　were　things　happened　after　you　first
gave　me　the　run　of　your　house　that　might　make　you　want　to　put　up　the　bars
againif　they　were　true。　　But　they　were　not　true。　　And　I　can　prove　that
by　the　best　of　all　possible　witnessesby　Uphill　himself。　　He　stands
shoulder　to　shoulder　with　me；　to　make　it　hot　for　any　one　who　couples　his
wife's　name　with　mine。〃

〃Humph！〃　　Kenton　could　not　help　making　this　comment；　and　Bittridge；　being
what　he　was；　could　not　help　laughing。

〃What's　the　use？〃　　he　asked；　recovering　himself。　　〃I　don't　pretend　that
I　did　right；　but　you　know　there　wasn't　any　harm　in　it。　　And　if　there　had
been　I　should　have　got　the　worst　of　it。　　Honestly；　judge；　I　couldn't　tell
you　how　much　I　prized　being　admitted　to　your　house　on　the　terms　I　was。　
Don't　you　think　I　could　appreciate　the　kindness　you　all　showed　me？　
Before　you　took　me　up；　I　was　alone　in　Tuskingum；　but　you　opened　every
door　in　the　place　for　me。　　You　made　it　home　to　me；　and　you　won't　believe
it；　of　course；　because　you're　prejudiced；　but　I　felt　like　a　son　and
brother　to　you　all。　　I　felt　towards　Mrs。　Kenton　just　as　I　do　towards　my
own　mother。　　I　lost　the　best　friends　I　ever　had　when　you　turned　against
me。　　Don't　you　suppose　I've　seen　the　difference　here　in　Tuskingum？　　Of
course；　the　men　pass　the　time　of　day　with　me　when　we　meet；　but　they　don't
look　me　up；　and　there　are　more　near…sighted　girls　in　this　town！〃　　Kenton
could　not　keep　the　remote　dawn　of　a　smile　out　of　his　eyes；　and　Bittridge
caught　the　far…off　gleam。　　〃And　everybody's　been　away　the　whole　winter。　
Not　a　soul　at　home；　anywhere；　and　I　had　to　take　my　chance　of　surprising
Mrs。　Dick　Kenton　when　I　saw　your　door　open　here：　He　laughed　forlornly；　as
the　gleam　faded　out　of　Kenton's　eye　again。　　〃And　the　worst　of　it　is　that
my　own　mother　isn't　at　home　to　me；　figuratively　speaking；　when　I　go　over
to　see　her　at　Ballardsville。　　She　got　wind　of　my　misfortune；　somehow；　and
when　I　made　a　clean　breast　of　it　to　her；　she　said　she　could　never　feel
the　same　to　me　till　I　had　made　it　all　right　with　the　Kentons。　　And　when　a
man's　own　mother　is　down　on　him；　judge！〃

Bittridge　left　Kenton　to　imagine　the　desperate　case；　and　in　spite　of　his
disbelief　in　the　man　and　all　he　said；　Kenton　could　not　keep　his　hardness
of　heart　towards　him。　　〃I　don't　know　what　you're　after；　young　man；〃　he
began。　　〃But　if　you　expect　me　to　receive　you　under　my　roof　again〃

〃Oh；　I　don't；　judge；　I　don't！〃　　Bittridge　interposed。　　〃All　I　want　is　to
be　able　to　tell　my　motherI　don't　care　for　anybody　elsethat　I　saw　you；
and　you　allowed　me　to　say　that　I　was　truly　sorry　for　the　painif　it　was
pain；　or　annoyance；　anywaythat　I　had　caused　you；　and　to　go　back　to　her
with　the　hope　of　atoning　for　it　sometime　or　somehow。　　That's　all。〃

〃Look　here！〃　cried　Renton。　　〃What　have　you　written　to　my　daughter　for？〃

〃Wasn't　that　natural？　　I　prized　her　esteem　more　than　I　do　yours　even；　but
did　I　ask　her　anything　more　than　I've　asked　you？　　I　didn't　expect　her　to
answer　me；　all　I　wanted　was　to　have　her　believe　that　I　wasn't　as　black　as
I　was　paintednot　inside；　anyway。　　You　know　well　enoughanybody　knows
that　I　would　rather　have　her　think　well　of　me　than　any　one　else　in　this
world；　except　my　mother。　　I　haven't　got　the　gift　of　showing　out　what's
good　in　me；　if　there　is　any　good；　but　I　believe　Miss　Ellen　would　want　to
think　well　of　me　if　I　gave　her　a　chance。　　If　ever　there　was　an　angel　on
earth；　she's　one。　　I　don't　deny　that　I　was　hopeful　of　mercy　from　her；
because　she　can't　think　evil；　but　I　can　lay　my　hand　on　my　heart　and　say
that　I　wasn't　selfish　in　my　hopes。　　It　seemed　to　me　that　it　was　her　due
to　understand　that　a　man　whom　she　had　allowed　to　be　her　friend　wasn't
altogether　unworthy。　　That's　as　near　as　I　can　come　to　putting　into　words
the　motive　I　had　in　writing　to　her。　　I　can't　even　begin　to　put　into　words
the　feeling　I　have　towards　her。　　It's　as　if　she　was　something　sacred。〃

This　was　the　feeling　Renton　himself　had　towards　his　daughter；　and　for　the
first　time　he　found　himself　on　common　ground　with　the　scapegrace　who
professed　it；　and　whose　light；　mocking　face　so　little　enforced　his
profession。　　If　Bittridge　could　have　spoken　in　the　dark；　his　words　might
have　carried　a　conviction　of　his　sincerity；　but　there；　in　plain　day；
confronting　the　father　of　Ellen；　who　had　every　wish　to　believe　him　true；
the　effect　was　different。　　Deep　within　his　wish　to　think　the　man　honest；
Kenton　recoiled　from　him。　　He　vaguely　perceived　that　it　was　because　she
could　not　think　evil　that　this　wretch　had　power　upon　her；　and　he　was
sensible；　as　he　had　not　been　before；　that　she　had　no　safety　from　him
except　in　absence。　　He　did　not　know　what　to　answer；　he　could　not　repel
him　in　open　terms；　and　still　less　could　he　meet　him　with　any　words　that
would　allow　him　to　resume　his　former　relations　with　his　family。　　He　said；
finally：　〃We　will　let　matters　stand。　　We　are　going　to　Europe　in　a　week；
and　I　shall　not　see　you　again。　　I　will　tell　Mrs。　Kenton　what　you　say。〃

〃Thank　you；　judge。　　And　tell　her　that　I　appreciate　your　kindness　more
than　I　can　say！〃　The　judge　rose　from　his　chair　and　went　towards　the
window；　which　he　had　thrown　open。　　〃Going　to　shut　up？　　Let　me　help　you
with　that　window；　it　seems　to　stick。　　Everything　fast　up…stairs？〃

〃II　think　so；〃　Kenton　hesitated。

〃I'll　just　run　up　and　look；〃　said　Bittridge；　and　he　took　the　stairs　two
at　a　time；　before　Kenton　could　protest；　when　they　came　out　into　the　hall
together。　　〃It's　all　right；〃　he　reported　on　his　quick　return。　　〃I'll　just
look　round　below　here；〃　and　he　explored　the　ground…floor　rooms　in　turn。　
〃No；　you　hadn't　opened　any　other　window；〃　he　said；　glancing　finally　into
the　library。　　〃Shall　I　leave　this　paper　on　your　table？〃

〃Yes；　leave　it　there；〃　said　Kenton；　helplessly；　and　he　let　Bittridge
close　the　front　door　after　him；　and　lock　it。

〃I　hope　Miss　Lottie　is　well；〃　he　suggested　in　handing　the　key　to　Kenton。　
〃And　Boyne〃　he　added；　with　the　cordiality　of　an　old　family　friend。
〃I　hope　Boyne　has　got　reconciled　to　New　York　a　little。　　He　was　rather
anxious　about　his　pigeons　when　he　left；　I　understand。　　But　I　guess　Dick's
man　has　looked　after　them。　　I'd　have　offered　to　take　charge　of　the
cocoons　myself　if　I'd　had　a　chance。〃　　He　walked；　gayly　chatting；　across
the　intervening　lawn　with　Kenton　to　his　son's　door；　where　at　sight　of　him
bra。　　Richard　Kenton　evanesced　into　the　interior　so　obviously　that
Bittridge　could　not　offer　to　come　in。　　〃Well；　I　shall　see　you　all　when
you　come　back　in　the　fall；　judge；　and　I　hope　you'll　have　a　pleasant
voyage　and　a　good　time　in　Europe。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　said　Kenton；　briefly。

〃Remember　me　to　the　ladies！〃　　and　Bittridge　took　off　his　hat　with　his
left　hand；　while　he　offered　the　judge　his　right。　　〃Well；　good…bye！〃

Kenton　made　what　response　he　could；　and　escaped　in…doors；　where　his
daughter…in…law　appeared　from　the　obscurity　into　which　she　had　retired
from　Bittridge。　　〃Well；　that　follow　does　beat　all！　　How；　in　the　world　did
he　find　you；　father？〃

〃He　came　into　the　house；〃　said　the　judge；　much　abashed　at　his　failure　to
deal　adequately　with　Bittridge。　　He　felt　it　the　more　in　the　presence　of
his　son's　wife。　　〃I　couldn't；　seem　to　get　rid　of　him　in　any　way　short　of
kicking　him　out。〃

〃No；　there's　nothing　equal　to　his　impudence。　　I　do　believe　he　would　have
come　in　here；　if　he　hadn't　seen　me　first。　　Did　you　tell　him　when　you　were
going　back；　father？　　Because　he'd　be　at　the　train　to　see　you　off；　just　as
sure！〃

〃No；　I　didn't　tell　him；〃　said　Kenton；　feeling　move　shaken　now　from　the
interview　with　Bittridge　than　he　had　realized　before。　　He　was　ashamed　to
let　Mary　know　that　he　had　listened　to　Bittridge's　justification；　which　he
now　perceived　was　none；　and　he　would　have　liked　to　pretend　that　he　had
not　silently　condoned　his　offences；　but　Mary　did　not　drive　him　to　these
deceptions　by　any　further　allusions　to　Bittridge。

〃Well；　now；　you　must　go　into　the　sitting…room　and　lie　down　on　the　lounge；
I　promised　Dick　to　make　you。　　Or　would　you　rather　go　up…stairs　to　your
room？〃

〃I　think　I'll　go　to　my　room；〃　said　Kenton。

He　was　asleep　there　on　the　bed　when　Richard　came　home　to　dinner　and
looked　softly　in。　　He　decided　not　to　wake　him；　and　Mary　said　the　sleep
would　do　him　more　good　than　the　dinner。　　At　table　they　talked　him　over；
and　she　told　her　husband　what　she　knew　of　the　morning's　adventure。

〃That　was　pretty　tough　for　father；〃　said　Richard。　　〃I　wouldn't　go　into
the　house　with　him；　because　I　knew　he　wanted　to　have　it　to　himself；　and
then　to　think　of　that　dirty　hound　skulking　in！　　Well；　perhaps　it's　for
the　best。　　It　will　make　it　easier；　for　father　to　go　and　leave　the　place；
and　they've　got　to　go。　　They've　got　to　put　the　Atlantic　Ocean　between
Ellen　and　that　fellow。〃

〃It　does　seem　as　if　something　might　be　done；〃　his　wife　rebelled。

〃They've　done　the　best　that　could　be　done；〃　said　Richard。　　〃And　if　that
skunk　hasn't　got　some　sort　of　new　hold　upon　father；　I　shall　be　satisfied。　
The　worst　of　it　is　that　it　will　be　all　over　town　in　an　hour　that
Bittridge　has　made　up　with　us。　　I　don't　blame　father；　he　couldn't　help
it；　he　never　could　be　rude　to　anybody。〃

〃I　think　I'll　try　if　I　can't　be　rude　to　Mr。　Bittridge；　if　he　ever
undertakes　to　show　in　my　pretence　that　he　has　made　it　up　with　us；〃　said
Mary。

Richard　tenderly　found　out　from　his　father's　shamefaced　reluctance；
later；　that　no　great　mischief　had　been　done。　　But　no　precaution　on　his
part　availed　to　keep　Bittridge　from　demonstrating　the　good　feeling
between　himself　and　the　Kentons　when　the　judge　started　for　New　York　the
next　afternoon。　　He　was　there　waiting　to　see　him　off；　and　he　all　but　took
the　adieus　out　of　Richard's　hands。　　He　got　possession　of　the　judge's
valise；　and　pressed　past　the　porter　into　the　sleeping…car　with　it；　and
remained　lounging　on　the　arm　of　the　judge's　seat；　making　conversation
with　him　and　Richard　till　the　train　began　to　move。　　Then　he　ran　outside；
and　waved　his　hand　to　the　judge's　window　in　farewell；　before　all　that
leisure　of　Tuskingum　which　haunted　the　arrival　and　departure　of　the
trains。

Mary　Kenton　was　furious　when　her　husband　came　home　and　reported　the　fact
to　her。

〃How　in　the　world　did　he　find　out　when　father　was　going？〃

〃He　must　have　come　to　all　the　through　trains　since　he　say　him　yesterday。　
But　I　think　even　you　would　have　been　suited；　Mary；　if　you　had　seen　his
failure　to　walk　off　from　the　depot　arm…in…arm　with　me：

〃I　wouldn't　have　been　suited　with　anything　short　of　your　knocking；　him
down；　Dick。〃

〃Oh；　that　wouldn't　have　done；〃　said　Richard。　　After　a　while　he　added；
patiently；　〃Ellen　is　making　a　good　deal　of　trouble　for　us。〃

This　was　what　Mary　was　thinking　herself；　and　it　was　what　she　might　have
said；　but　since　Dick　had　said　it　she　was　obliged　to　protest。　　〃She　isn't
to　blame　for　it。〃

〃Oh；　I　know　she　isn't　to　blame。〃




V。

The　father　of　the　unhappy　girl　was　of　the　same　mixed　mind　as　he　rode