the kentons- 第39部分

〃Did　she　tell〃

〃Yes。　　It　was　terrible　she　seemed　to　feel　so。　　And　I　was　sorry　for　her。　
I　thought　I　ought　to　answer　it；　and　I　did。　　I　told　her　I　was　sorry；　too。　
I　tried　not　to　blame　Richard。　　I　don't　believe　I　did。　　And　I　tried　not　to
blame　him。　　She　was　feeling　badly　enough　without　that。〃

Her　father　and　mother　looked　at　each　other；　they　did　not　speak；　and　she
asked；　〃Do　you　think　I　oughtn't　to　have　written？〃

Her　father　answered；　a　little　tremulously：　〃You　did　right；　Ellen。　　And　I
am　sure　that　you　did　it　in　just　the　right　way。〃

〃I　tried　to。　　I　thought　I　wouldn't　worry　you　about　it。〃

She　rose；　and　now　her　mother　thought　she　was　going　to　say　that　it　put　an
end　to　everything；　that　she　must　go　back　and　offer　herself　as　a　sacrifice
to　the　injured　Bittridges。　　Her　mind　had　reverted　to　that　moment　on　the
steamer　when　Ellen　told　her　that　nothing　had　reconciled　her　to　what　had
happened　with　Bittridge　but　the　fact　that　all　the　wrong　done　had　been
done　to　themselves；　that　this　freed　her。　　In　her　despair　she　could　not
forbear　asking；　〃What　did　you　write　to　her；　Ellen？〃

〃Nothing。　　I　just　said　that　I　was　very　sorry；　and　that　I　knew　how　she
felt。　　I　don't　remember　exactly。〃

She　went　up　and　kissed　her　mother。　　She　seemed　rather　fatigued　than
distressed；　and　her　father　asked　her。　　〃Are　you　going　to　bed；　my　dear？〃

〃Yes；　I'm　pretty　tired；　and　I　should　think　you　would　be；　too；　poppa。　
I'll　speak　to　poor　Boyne。　　Don't　mind　Lottie。　　I　suppose　she　couldn't
help　saying　it。〃　　She　kissed　her　father；　and　slipped　quietly　into　Boyne's
room；　from　which　they　could　hear　her　passing　on　to　her　own　before　they
ventured　to　say　anything　to　each　other　in　the　hopeful　bewilderment　to
which　she　had　left　them。

〃Well？〃　　said　the　judge。

〃Well？〃　　Mrs。　Kenton　returned；　in　a　note　of　exasperation；　as　if　she　were
not　going　to　let　herself　be　forced　to　the　initiative。

〃I　thought　you　thought〃

〃I　did　think　that。　　Now　I　don't　know　what　to　think。　　We　have　got　to
wait。〃

〃I'm　willing　to　wait　for　Ellen！〃

〃She　seems；〃　said　Mrs。　Kenton；　〃to　have　more　sense　than　both　the　other
children　put　together；　and　I　was　afraid〃

〃She　might　easily　have　more　sense　than　Boyne；　or　Lottie；　either。〃

〃Well；　I　don't　know；〃　Mrs。　Kenton　began。　　But　she　did　not　go　on　to　resent
the　disparagement　which　she　had　invited。　　〃What　I　was　afraid　of　was　her
goodness。　　It　was　her　goodness　that　got　her　into　the　trouble；　to　begin
with。　　If　she　hadn't　been　so　good；　that　fellow　could　never　have　fooled
her　as　he　did。　　She　was　too　innocent。〃

The　judge　could　not　forbear　the　humorous　view。　　〃Perhaps　she's　getting
wickeder；　or　not　so　innocent。　　At　any　rate；　she　doesn't　seem　to　have　been
take　in　by　Trannel。〃

〃He　didn't　pay　any　attention　to　her。　　He　was　all　taken　up　with　Lottie。〃

〃Well；　that　was　lucky。　　Sarah；〃　said　the　judge；　〃do　you　think　he　is　like
Bittridge？〃

〃He's　made　me　think　of　him　all　the　time。〃

〃It's　curious；〃　the　judge　mused。　　〃I　have　always　noticed　how　our　faults
repeat　themselves；　but　I　didn't　suppose　our　fates　would　always　take　the
same　shape；　or　something　like　it。〃　　Mrs。　Kenton　stared　at　him。　　〃When
this　other　one　first　made　up　to　us　on　the　boat　my　heart　went　down。　　I
thought　of　Bittridge　so。〃

〃Mr。　Breckon？〃

〃Yes；　the　same　lightness；　the　same　sort　of　trifling　Didn't　you　notice
it？〃

〃Noyes；　I　noticed　it。　　But　I　wasn't　afraid　for　an　instant。　　I　saw　that
he　was　good。〃

〃Oh！〃

〃What　I'm　afraid　of　now　is　that　Ellen　doesn't　care　anything　about　him。〃

〃He　isn't　wicked　enough？〃

〃I　don't　say　that。　　But　it　would　be　too　much　happiness　to　expect　in　one
short　life。〃

The　judge　could　not　deny　the　reasonableness　of　her　position。　　He　could
only　oppose　it。　　〃Well；　I　don't　think　we've　had　any　more　than　our　share
of　happiness　lately。〃

No　one　except　Boyne　could　have　made　Trannel's　behavior　a　cause　of
quarrel；　but　the　other　Kentons　made　it　a　cause　of　coldness　which　was
quite　as　effective。　　In　Lottie　this　took　the　form　of　something　so　active；
so　positive；　that　it　was　something　more　than　a　mere　absence　of　warmth。　
Before　she　came　clown　to　breakfast　the　next　morning　she　studied　a　stare
in　her　mirror；　and　practised　it　upon　Trannel　so　successfully　when　he　came
up　to　speak　to　her　that　it　must　have　made　him　doubt　whether　he　had　ever
had　her　acquaintance。　　In　his　doubt　he　ventured　to　address　her；　and　then
Lottie　turned　her　back　upon　him　in　a　manner　that　was　perfectly
convincing。　　He　attempted　a　smiling　ease　with　Mrs。　Kenton　and　the　judge；
but　they　shared　neither　his　smile　nor　his　ease；　and　his　jocose　questions
about　the　end　of　yesterday's　adventures；　which　he　had　not　been　privy　to；
did　not　seem　to　appeal　to　the　American　sense　of　humor　in　them。　　Ellen　was
not　with　them；　nor　Boyne；　but　Trannel　was　not　asked　to　take　either　of　the
vacant　places　at　the　table；　even　when　Breckon　took　one　of　them；　after　a
decent　exchange　of　civilities　with　him。　　He　could　only　saunter　away　and
leave　Mrs。　Kenton　to　a　little　pang。

〃Tchk！〃　she　made。　　〃I'm　sorry　for　him！〃

〃So　am　I；〃　said　the　judge。　　〃But　he　will　get　over　itonly　too　soon；　I'm
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？〃