the kentons-第36部分

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going　to　have　you　hanging　round　me　all　day。　　I　can　chaperon　myself。〃

〃Lottie；〃　her　mother　tried　to　stay　her；　〃I　wish　you　would　go。　　I　don't
believe　that　Mr。　Trannel　will　be　much　of　an　addition。　　He　will　be　on　your
poor　father's　hands　all　day；　or　else　Ellen's；　and　if　you　went　you　could
help　off。〃

〃Thank　you；　mother。　　I've　had　quite　all　I　want　of　Mr。　Trannel。　　You　can
tell　him　he　needn't　go；　if　you　want　to。〃

Lottie　at　least　did　not　leave　her　mother　to　make　her　excuses　to　the　party
when　they　met　for　starting。　　Mrs。　Kenton　had　deferred　her　own　till　she
thought　it　was　too　late　for　her　husband　to　retreat；　and　then　bunglingly
made　them；　with　so　much　iteration　that　it　seemed　to　her　it　would　have
been　far　less　pointed；　as　concerned　Mr。　Breckon；　if　she　had　gone。　　Lottie
sunnily　announced　that　she　was　going　to　stay　with　her　mother；　and　did　not
even　try　to　account　for　her　defection　to　Mr。　Trannel。

〃What's　the　matter　with　my　staying；　too？〃　　he　asked。　　〃It　seems　to　me
there　are　four　wheels　to　this　coach　now。〃

He　had　addressed　his　misgiving　more　to　Lottie　than　the　rest；　but　with　the
same　sunny　indifference　to　the　consequence　for　others　that　she　had　put　on
in　stating　her　decision；　she　now　discharged　herself　from　further
responsibility　by　turning　on　her　heel　and　leaving　it　with　the　party
generally。　　In　the　circumstances　Mr。　Trannel　had　no　choice　but　to　go；
and　he　was　supported；　possibly；　by　the　hope　of　taking　it　out　of　Lottie
some　other　time。

It　was　more　difficult　for　Mrs。　Kenton　to　get　rid　of　the　judge；　but　an
inscrutable　frown　goes　far　in　such　exigencies。　　It　seems　to　explain；　and
it　certainly　warns；　and　the　husband　on　whom　it　is　bent　never　knows；　even
after　the　longest　experience；　whether　he　had　better　inquire　further。　
Usually　he　decides　that　he　had　better　not；　and　Judge　Kenton　went　off
towards　the　tram　with　Boyne　in　the　cloud　of　mystery　which　involved　them
both　as　to　Mrs。　Kenton's　meaning。




XXIII。


Trannel　attached　himself　as　well　as　he　could　to　Breckon　and　Ellen；　and
Breckon　had　an　opportunity　not　fully　offered　him　before　to　note　a
likeness　between　himself　and　a　fellow…man　whom　he　was　aware　of　not
liking；　though　he　tried　to　love　him；　as　he　felt　it　right　to　love　all　men。　
He　thought　he　had　not　been　quite　sympathetic　enough　with　Mrs。　Kenton　in
her　having　to　stay　behind；　and　he　tried　to　make　it　up　to　Mr。　Trannel　in
his　having　to　come。　　He　invented　civilities　to　show　him；　and　ceded　his
place　next　Ellen　as　if　Trannel　had　a　right　to　it。　　Trannel　ignored　him　in
keeping　it；　unless　it　was　recognizing　Breckon　to　say；　〃Oh；　I　hope　I'm　not
in　your　way；　old　fellow？〃　　and　then　making　jokes　to　Ellen。　　Breckon　could
not　say　the　jokes　were　bad；　though　the　taste　of　them　seemed　to　him　so。　
The　man　had　a　fleering　wit；　which　scorched　whatever　he　turned　it　upon；
and　yet　it　was　wit。　　〃Why　don't　you　try　him　in　American？〃　　he　asked　at
the　failure　of　Breckon　and　the　tram　conductor　to　understand　each　other　in
Dutch。　　He　tried　the　conductor　himself　in　American；　and　he　was　so
deplorably　funny　that　it　was　hard　for　Breckon　to　help　being　'particeps
criminus'；　at　least　in　a　laugh。

He　asked　himself　if　that　were　really　the　kind　of　man　he　was；　and　he　grew
silent　and　melancholy　in　the　fear　that　it　was　a　good　deal　the　sort　of
man。　　To　this　morbid　fancy　Trannel　seemed　himself　in　a　sort　of　excess；
or　what　he　would　be　if　he　were　logically　ultimated。　　He　remembered　all
the　triviality　of　his　behavior　with　Ellen　at　first；　and　rather　sickened
at　the　thought　of　some　of　his　early　pleasantries。　　She　was　talking　gayly
now　with　Trannel；　and　Breckon　wondered　whether　she　was　falling　under　the
charm　that　he　felt　in　him；　in　spite　of　himself。

If　she　was；　her　father　was　not。　　The　judge　sat　on　the　other　side　of　the
car；　and　unmistakably　glowered　at　the　fellow's　attempts　to　make　himself
amusing　to　Ellen。　　Trannel　himself　was　not　insensible　to　the　judge's
mood。　　Now　and　then　he　said　something　to　intensify　it。　　He　patronized　the
judge　and　he　made　fun　of　the　tourist　character　in　which　Boyne　had　got
himself　up；　with　a　field…glass　slung　by　a　strap　under　one　arm　and　a　red
Baedeker　in　his　hand。　　He　sputtered　with　malign　laughter　at　a　rather
gorgeous　necktie　which　Boyne　had　put　on　for　the　day；　and　said　it　was　not
a　very　good　match　for　the　Baedeker。

Boyne　retorted　rudely；　and　that　amused　Trannel　still　more。　　He　became
personal　to　Breckon；　and　noted　the　unclerical　cut　of　his　clothes。　　He
said　he　ought　to　have　put　on　his　uniform　for　an　expedition　like　that；　in
case　they　got　into　any　sort　of　trouble。　　To　Ellen　alone　he　was
inoffensive；　unless　he　overdid　his　polite　attentions　to　her　in　carrying
her　parasol　for　her；　and　helping　her　out　of　the　tram；　when　they　arrived；
shouldering　every　one　else　away；　and　making　haste　to　separate　her　from
the　others　and　then　to　walk　on　with　her　a　little　in　advance。

Suddenly　he　dropped　her；　and　fell　back　to　Boyne　and　his　father；　while
Breckon　hastened　forward　to　her　side。　　Trannel　put　his　arm　across　Boyne's
shoulders　and　asked　him　if　he　were　mad；　and　then　laughed　at　him。　　〃You're
all　right；　Boyne；　but　you　oughtn't　to　be　so　approachable。　　You　ought　to
put　on　more　dignity；　and　repel　familiarity！〃

Boyne　could　only　twitch　away　in　silence　that　he　made　as　haughty　as　he
could；　but　not　so　haughty　that　Trannel　did　not　find　it　laughable；　and　he
laughed　in　a　teasing　way　that　made　Breckon　more　and　more　serious。　　He　was
aware　of　becoming　even　solemn　with　the　question　of　his　likeness　to
Trannel。　　He　was　of　Trannel's　quality；　and　their　difference　was　a　matter
of　quantity；　and　there　was　not　enough　difference。　　In　his　sense　of　their
likeness　Breckon　vowed　himself　to　a　gravity　of　behavior　evermore　which　he
should　not　probably　be　able　to　observe；　but　the　sample　he　now　displayed
did　not　escape　the　keen　vigilance　of　Trannel。

〃With　the　exception　of　Miss　Kenton；〃　he　addressed　himself　to　the　party；
〃you're　all　so　easy　and　careless　that　if　you　don't　look　out　you'll　lose
me。　　Miss　Kenton；　I　wish　you　would　keep　an　eye　on　me。　　I　don't　want　to
get　lost。〃

Ellen　laughedshe　could　not　help　itand　her　laughing　made　it　less
possible　than　before　for　Breckon　to　unbend　and　meet　Trannel　on　his　own
ground；　to　give　him　joke　for　joke；　to　exchange　banter　with　him。　　He　might
never　have　been　willing　to　do　that；　but　now　he　shrank　from　it；　in　his
realization　of　their　likeness；　with　an　abhorrence　that　rendered　him
rigid。

The　judge　was　walking　ahead　with　Boyne；　and　his　back　expressed　such
severe　disapproval　that；　between　her　fear　that　Trannel　would　say
something　to　bring　her　father's　condemnation　on　him　and　her　sense　of
their　inhospitable　attitude　towards　one　who　was　their　guest；　in　a　sort；
she　said；　with　her　gentle　gayety；　〃Then　you　must　keep　near　me；　Mr。
Trannel。　　I'll　see　that　nothing　happens。〃

〃That's　very　sweet　of　you；〃　said　Trannel；　soberly。　　Whether　he　had　now
vented　his　malicious　humor　and　was　ready　to　make　himself　agreeable；　or
was　somewhat　quelled　by　the　unfriendly　ambient　he　had　created；　or　was
wrought　upon　by　her　friendliness；　he　became　everything　that　could　be
wished　in　a　companion　for　a　day's　pleasure。　　He　took　the　lead　at　the
station；　and　got　them　a　compartment　in　the　car　to　themselves　for　the
little　run　to　Leyden；　and　on　the　way　he　talked　very　well。　　He　politely
borrowed　Boyne's　Baedeker；　and　decided　for　the　party　what　they　had　best
see；　and　showed　an　acceptable　intelligence；　as　well　as　a　large　experience
in　the　claims　of　Leyden　upon　the　visitor's　interest。　　He　had　been　there
often　before；　it　seemed；　and　in　the　event　it　appeared　that　he　had　chosen
the　days　sightseeing　wisely。

He　no　longer　addressed　himself　respectfully　to　Ellen　alone；　but　he　re…
established　himself　in　Boyne's　confidence　with　especial　pains；　and　he
conciliated　Breckon　by　a　recognition　of　his　priority　with　Ellen　with　a
delicacy　refined　enough　for　even　the　susceptibility　of　a　lover　alarmed
for　his　rights。　　If　he　could　not　overcome　the　reluctance　of　the　judge；
he　brought　him　to　the　civil　response　which　any　one　who　tried　for　Kenton's
liking　achieved；　even　if　he　did　not　merit　it；　and　there　remained　no　more
reserve　in　Kenton's　manner　than　there　had　been　with　the　young　man　from
the　first。　　He　had　never　been　a　persona　grata　to　the　judge；　and　if　he　did
not　become　so　now；　he　at　least　ceased　to　be　actively　displeasing。

That　was　the　year　before　the　young　Queen　came　to　her　own；　and　in　the　last
days　of　her　minority　she　was　visiting　all　the　cities　of　her　future
dominion　with　the　queen…mother。　　When　Kenton's　party　left　the　station
they　found　Leyden　as　gay　for　her　reception　as　flags　and　banners　could
make　the　gray　old　town；　and　Trannel　relapsed　for　a　moment　so　far　as　to
suggest　that　the　decorations　were　in　honor　of　Boyne's　presence；　but　he
did　not　abuse　the　laugh　that　this　made　to　Boyne's　further　shame。

There　was　no　carriage　at　the　station　which　would　hold　the　party　of　five；
and　they　had　to　take　two　vehicles。　　Trannel　said　it　was　lucky　they　wanted
two；　since　there　were　no　more；　and　he　put　himself　in　authority　to　assort
the　party。　　The　judge；　he　decided；　must　go　with　Ellen　and　Breckon；　and　he
hoped　Boyne　would　let　him　go　in　his　carriage；　if　he　would　sit　on　the　box
with　the　driver。　　The　judge　afterwards　owned　that　he　had　weakly　indulged
his　dislike　of　the　fellow；　in　letting　him　take　Boyne；　and　not　insisting
on　going　himself　with　Tramiel；　but　this　was　when　it　was　long　too　late。　
Ellen　had　her　misgivings；　but；　except　for　that　gibe　about　the
decorations；　Trannel　had　been　behaving　so　well　that　she　hoped　she　might
trust　Boyne　with　him。　　She　made　a　kind　of　appeal　for　her　brother；　bidding
him　and　Trannel　take　good　care　of　each　other；　and　Trannel　promised　so
earnestly　to　look　after　Boyne　that　she　ought　to　have　been　alarmed　for
him。　　He　took　the　lead；　rising　at　times　to　wave　a　reassuring　hand　to　her
over　the　back　of　his　carriage；　and；　in　fact；　nothing　evil　could　very　well
happen　from　him；　with　the　others　following　so　close　upon　him。　　They　met
from　time　to　time　in　the　churches　they　visited；　and　when　they　lost　sight
of　one　another；　through　a　difference　of　opinion　in　the　drivers　as　to　the
best　route；　they　came　together　at　the　place　Trannel　had　appointed　for
their　next　reunion。

He　showed　himself　a