the kentons-第8章

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V。

The　father　of　the　unhappy　girl　was　of　the　same　mixed　mind　as　he　rode
sleeplessly　back　to　New　York　in　his　berth；　and　heard　the　noises　of
slumber　all　round　him。　　From　time　to　time　he　groaned　softly；　and　turned
from　one　cheek　to　the　other。　　Every　half…hour　or　so　he　let　his　window…
curtain　fly　up；　and　lay　watching　the　landscape　fleeting　past；　and　then　he
pulled　the　curtain　down　again　and　tried　to　sleep。　　After　passing　Albany
he　dozed；　but　at　Poughkeepsie　a　zealous　porter　called　him　by　mistake；　and
the　rest　of　the　way　to　New　York　he　sat　up　in　the　smoking…room。　　It　seemed
a　long　while　since　he　had　drowsed；　the　thin　nap　had　not　rested　him；　and
the　old　face　that　showed　itself　in　the　glass；　with　the　frost　of　a　two
days'　beard　on　it；　was　dry…eyed　and　limply　squared　by　the　fall　of　the
muscles　at　the　corners　of　the　chin。

He　wondered　how　he　should　justify　to　his　wife　the　thing　which　he　felt　as
accountable　for　having　happened　to　him　as　if　he　could　have　prevented　it。　
It　would　not　have　happened；　of　course；　if　he　had　not　gone　to　Tuskingum；
and　she　could　say　that　to　him；　now　it　seemed　to　him　that　his　going；　which
had　been　so　imperative　before　he　went；　was　altogether　needless。　　Nothing
but　harm　had　come　of　it；　and　it　had　been　a　selfish　indulgence　of　a
culpable　weakness。

It　was　a　little　better　for　Kenton　when　he　found　himself　with　his　family；
and　they　went　down　together　to　the　breakfast　which　the　mother　had　engaged
the　younger　children　to　make　as　pleasant　as　they　could　for　their　father；
and　not　worry　him　with　talk　about　Tuskingum。　　They　had；　in　fact；　got　over
their　first　season　of　homesickness；　and　were　postponing　their　longing　for
Tuskingum　till　their　return　from　Europe；　when　they　would　all　go　straight
out　there。　　Kenton　ran　the　gauntlet　of　welcome　from　the　black　elevator…
boys　and　bell…boys　and　the　head…waiter；　who　went　before　him　to　pull　out
the　judge's　chair；　with　commanding　frowns　to　his　underlings　to　do　the
like　for　the　rest　of　the　family；　and　as　his　own　clumsy　Irish　waiter　stood
behind　his　chair；　breathing　heavily　upon　the　judge's　head；　he　gave　his
order　for　breakfast；　with　a　curious　sense　of　having　got　home　again　from
some　strange　place。　　He　satisfied　Boyne　that　his　pigeons　and　poultry　had
been　well　cared　for　through　the　winter；　and　he　told　Lottie　that　he　had
not　met　much　of　anybody　except　Dick's　family；　before　he　recollected
seeing　half　a　dozen　of　her　young　men　at　differed　times。　　She　was　not　very
exacting　about　them　and　her　mind　seemed　set　upon　Europe；　or　at　least　she
talked　of　nothing　else。　　Ellen　was　quiet　as　she　always　was；　but　she
smiled　gently　on　her　father；　and　Mrs。　Kenton　told　him　of　the　girl's
preparations　for　going；　and　congratulated　herself　on　their　wisdom　in
having　postponed　their　sailing；　in　view　of　all　they　had　to　do；　and　she
made　Kenton　feel　that　everything　was　in　the　best　possible　shape。　　As　soon
as　she　got　him　alone　in　their　own　room；　she　said；　〃Well；　what　is　it；
poppa？〃

Then　he　had　to　tell　her；　and　she　listened　with　ominous　gravity。　　She　did
not　say　that　now　he　could　see　how　much　better　it　would　have　been　if　he
had　not　gone；　but　she　made　him　say　it　for　her；　and　she　would　not　let　him
take　comfort　in　the　notion　of　keeping　the　fact　of　his　interview　with
Bittridge　from　Ellen。　　〃It　would　be　worse　than　useless。　　He　will　write　to
her　about　it；　and　then　she　will　know　that　we　have　been；　concealing　it。〃

Kenton　was　astonished　at　himself　for　not　having　thought　of　that。　　〃And
what　are　you　going　to　do；　Sarah？〃

〃I　am　going　to　tell　her；〃　said　Mrs。　Kenton。

〃Why　didn't　poppa　tell　me　before？〃　　the　girl　perversely　demanded；　as　soon
as　her　another　had　done　so。

〃Ellen；　you　are　a　naughty　child！　　I　have　a　great　mind　not　to　have　a　word
more　to　say　to　you。　　Your　father　hasn't　been　in　the　house　an　hour。　　Did
you　want　him　to　speak　before　Lottie　and　Boyne！〃

〃I　don't　see　why　he　didn't　tell　me　himself。　　I　know　there　is　something
you　are　keeping　back。　　I　know　there　is　some　word〃

〃Oh；　yon　poor　girl！〃　said　her　mother；　melting　into　pity　against　all　sense
of　duty。　　〃Have　we　ever　tried　to　deceive　you？〃

〃No；〃　Ellen　sobbed；　with　her　face　in　her　hands。　　〃Now　I　will　tell　you
every　word　that　passed；〃　said　Mrs。　Kenton；　and　she　told；　as　well　as　she
could　remember；　all　that　the　judge　had　repeated　from　Bittridge。　　〃I　don't
say　he　isn't　ashamed　of　himself；〃　she　commented　at　the　end。　　〃He　ought　to
be；　and；　of　course；　he　would　be　glad　to　be　in　with　us　again　when　we　go
back；　but　that　doesn't　alter　his　character；　Ellen。　　Still；　if　you　can't
see　that　yourself；　I　don't　want　to　make　you；　and　if　you　would　rather　go
home　to　Tuskingum；　we　will　give　up　the　trip　to　Europe。〃

〃It's　too　late　to　do　that　now；〃　said　the　girl；　in　cruel　reproach。

Her　mother　closed　her　lips　resolutely　till　she　could　say；　〃Or　you　can
write　to　him　if　you　want　to。〃

〃I　don't　want　to；〃　said　Ellen；　and　she　dragged　herself　up　out　of　her
chair；　and　trailed　slowly　out　of　the　room　without　looking　at　her　mother。

〃Well？〃　　the　judge　asked；　impatiently；　when　he　came　in　as　soon　after　this
as　he　decently　could。　　They　observed　forms　with　regard　to　talking　about
Ellen　which；　after　all；　were　rather　for　themselves　than　for　her；　Mrs。
Kenton；　at　least；　knew　that　the　girl　knew　when　they　were　talking　about
her。

〃She　took　it　as　well　as　I　expected。〃

〃What　is　she　going　to　do？〃

〃She　didn't　say。　　But　I　don't　believe　she　will　do　anything。〃

〃I　wish　I　had　taken　our　tickets　for　next　Saturday；〃　said　Kenton。

〃Well；　we　must　wait　now；〃　said　his　wife。　　〃If　he　doesn't　write　to　her；
she　won't　write　to　him。〃

〃Has　she　ever　answered　that　letter　of　his？〃

〃No；　and　I　don't　believe　she　will　now。〃

That　night　Ellen　came　to　her　mother　and　said　she　need　not　be　afraid　of
her　writing　to　Bittridge。　　〃He　hasn't　changed；　if　he　was　wrong；　by　coming
and　saying　those　things　to　poppa；　and　nothing　has　changed。〃

〃That　is　the　way　I　hoped　you　would　see　it；　Ellen。〃　　Her　mother　looked
wistfully　at　her；　but　the　girl　left　her　without　letting　her　satisfy　the
longing　in　the　mother's　heart　to　put　her　arms　round　her　child；　and　pull
her　head　down　upon　her　breast　for　a　cry。

Kenton　slept　better　that　night　than　his　wife；　who　was　kept　awake　by　a
formless　foreboding。　　For　the　week　that　followed　she　had　the　sense　of
literally　pushing　the　hours　away；　so　that　at　times　she　found　herself
breathless；　as　if　from　some　heavy　physical　exertion。　　At　such　times　she
was　frantic　with　the　wish　to　have　the　days　gone；　and　the　day　of　their
sailing　come；　but　she　kept　her　impatience　from　her　husband　and　children；
and　especially　from　Ellen。　　The　girl　was　passive　enough；　she　was　almost
willing；　and　in　the　preparation　for　their　voyage　she　did　her　share　of　the
shopping；　and　discussed　the　difficult　points　of　this　business　with　her
mother　and　sister　as　if　she　had　really　been　thinking　about　it　all。　　But
her　mother　doubted　if　she　had；　and　made　more　of　Ellen's　sunken　eyes　and
thin　face　than　of　her　intelligent　and　attentive　words。　　It　was　these　that
she　reported　to　her　husband；　whom　she　kept　from　talking　with　Ellen；　and
otherwise　quelled。

〃Let　her　alone；〃　she　insisted；　one　morning　of　the　last　week。　　〃What　can
you　do　by　speaking　to　her　about　it？　　Don't　you　see　that　she　is　making　the
best　fight　she　can？　　You　will　weaken　her　if　you　interfere。　　It's　less
than　a　week　now；　and　if　you　can　only　hold　out；　I　know　she　can。〃

Kenton　groaned。　　〃Well；　I　suppose　you're　right；　Sarah。　　But　I　don't　like
the　idea　of　forcing　her　to　go；　unless〃

〃Then　you　had　better　write　to　that　fellow；　and　ask　him　to　come　and　get
her。〃

This　shut　Kenton's　mouth；　and　he　kept　on　with　his　shaving。　　When　he　had
finished　he　felt　fresher；　if　not　stronger；　and　he　went　down　to　breakfast；
which　he　had　alone；　not　only　with　reference　to　his　own　family；　but　all
the　other　guests　of　the　hotel。　　He　was　always　so　early　that　sometimes　the
dining…room　was　not　open；　when　this　happened；　he　used　to　go　and　buy　a
newspaper　at　the　clerk's　desk；　for　it　was　too　early　then　for　the　news…
stand　to　be　open。　　It　happened　so　that　morning；　and　he　got　his　paper
without　noticing　the　young　man　who　was　writing　his　name　in　the　hotel
register；　but　who　looked　briskly　up　when　the　clerk　bade　Kenton　good…
morning　by　name。

〃Why；　judge！〃　　he　said；　and　he　put　out　a　hand　which　Kenton　took　with
trembling　reluctance　and　a　dazed　stare。　　〃I　thought　you　sailed　last
Saturday！〃

〃We　sail　next　Saturday；〃　said　Kenton。

〃Well；　well！　　Then　I　misunderstood；〃　said　Bittridge；　and　he　added：　〃Why；
this　is　money　found　in　the　road！　　How　are　all　the　family？　　I've　got　my
mother　here　with　me；　brought　her　on　for　a　kind　of　a　little　outing。　
She'll　be　the　most　surprised　woman　in　New　York　when　I　tell　her　you're
here　yet。　　We　came　to　this　hotel　because　we　knew　you　had　been　here；　but
we　didn't　suppose　you　were　here！　　Well！　　This　is　too　good！　　I　saw　Dick；
Friday；　but　he　didn't　say　anything　about　your　sailing；　I　suppose　he
thought　I　knew。　　Didn't　you　tell　me　you　were　going　in　a　week；　that　day　in
your　house？〃

〃Perhaps　I　did；〃　Kenton　faltered　out；　his　eyes　fixed　on　Bittridge's　with
a　helpless　fascination。

〃Well；　it　don't　matter　so　long　as　you're　here。　　Mother's　in　the　parlor
waiting　for　me；　I　won't　risk　taking　you　to　her　now；　judgeright　off　the
train；　you　know。　　But　I　want　to　bring　her　to　call　on　Mrs。　Kenton　as　soon
after　breakfast　as　you'll　let　me。　　She　just　idolizes　Mrs。　Kenton；　from
what　I've　told　her　about　her。　　Our　rooms　ready？〃　　He　turned　to　the　clerk；
and　the　clerk　called　〃　Front！〃　to　a　bellboy；　who　ran　up　and　took
Bittridge's　hand…baggage；　and　stood　waiting　to　follow　him　into　the
parlor。　　〃Well；　you　must　excuse　me　now；　judge。　　So　long！〃　he　said；　gayly；
and　Kenton　crept　feebly　away　to　the　dining…room。

He　must　have　eaten　breakfast；　but　he　was　not　aware　of　doing　so；　and　the
events　of　his　leaving　the　table　and　going　up　in　the　elevator　and　finding
himself　in　his　wife's　presence　did　not　present　themselves　consecutively；
though　they　must　all　have　successively　occurred。　　It　did　not　seem　to　him
that　he　could　tell　what　he　knew；　but　he　found　himself　doing　it；　and　her
hearing　it　with　strange　quiet。

〃Very　well；〃　she　said。　　〃I　must　tell　Ellen；　and；　if　she　wishes；　we　must
stay　in　and　wait　for　their　call。〃

〃Yes；〃　the　judge　mechanically　consented。

It　was　painful　for　Mrs。　Kenton　to　see　how　the　girl　flushed　when　she
announced　the　fact　of　Bittridge's　presence；　for　she　knew　what　a　strife　of
hope　and　shame　and　pride　there　was　in　Ellen's　heart。　　At　first　she　said
that　she　did　not　wish　to　see　him；　and　then　when　Mrs。　Kenton　would　not　say
whether　she　had　better　see　him　or　not；　she　added；　vaguely；　〃If　he　has
brought　his　mother〃

〃I　think　we　must　see　them；　Ellen。　　You　wouldn't　wish　to　think　you　had
been　unkind；　and　he　might　be　hurt　on　his　mother's　account。　　He　seems
really　fond　of　her；　and　perhaps〃

〃No；　there　isn't　any　perhaps；　momma；〃　said　the　girl；　gratefully。　　〃But　I
think　we　had　better　see　them；　too。　　I　think　we　had　better　ALL　see　them。〃

〃Just　as　you　please；　Ellen。　　If　you　prefer　to　meet　them　alone〃

〃I　don't　prefer　that。　　I　want　poppa　to　be　there；　and　Lottie　and　Boyne
even。〃

Boyne　objected　when　he　was　told　that　his　presence　was　requested　at　this
family　rite；　and　he　would　have　excused　himself　if