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
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