the kentons-第5部分

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〃She　says　she　don't　want　to　eat　anything；〃　Lottie　reported。　　〃She　made
the　man　take　it　away　again。〃

The　gloom　deepened　in　the　faces　of　the　father　and　mother；　but　neither
spoke；　and　Boyne　resumed　the　word　again　in　a　tone　of　philosophic
speculation。　　〃I　don't　see　how　I'm　going　to　get　along；　with　those
European　breakfasts。　　They　say　you　can't　get　anything　but　cold　meat　or
eggs；　and　generally　they　don't　expect　to　give　you　anything　but　bread　and
butter　with　your　coffee。　　I　don't　think　that's　the　way　to　start　the　day；
do　you；　poppa？〃

Kenton　seemed　not　to　have　heard；　for　he　went　on　silently　eating；　and　the
mother；　who　had　not　been　appealed　to；　merely　looked　distractedly　across
the　table　at　her　children。

〃Mr。　Plumpton　says　he's　coming　down　to　see　us　off；〃　said　Lottie；
smoothing　her　napkin　in　her　lap。　　〃Do　you　know　the　time　of　day　when　the
boat　sails；　momma？〃

〃Yes；〃　her　brother　broke　in；　〃and　if　I　had　been　momma　I'd　have　boxed　your
ears　for　the　way　you　went　on　with　him。　　You　fairly　teased　him　to　come。　
The　way　Lottie　goes　on　with　men　is　a　shame；　momma。〃

〃What　time　does　the　boat　sail；　momma！〃　Lottie　blandly　persisted。　　〃I
promised　to　let　Mr。　Plumpton　know。〃

〃Yes；　so　as　to　get　a　chance　to　write　to　him；〃　said　Boyne。　　〃I　guess　when
he　sees　your　spelling！〃

〃Momma！　　Do　wake　up！　　What　time　does　our　steamer　sail？〃

A　light　of　consciousness　came　into　Mrs。　Renton's　eyes　at　last；　and　she
sighed　gently。　　〃We're　not　going；　Lottie。〃

〃Not　going！　　Why；　but　we've　got　the　tickets；　and　I've　told〃

〃Your　father　has　decided　not　to　go；　for　the　present。　　We　may　go　later　in
the　summer；　or　perhaps　in　the　fall。〃

Boyne　looked　at　his　father's　troubled　face；　and　said　nothing；　but　Lottie
was　not　stayed　from　the　expression　of　her　feelings　by　any　ill…timed
consideration　for　what　her　father's　might　be。　　〃I　just　know；〃　she　fired；
〃it's　something　to　do　with　that　nasty　Bittridge。　　He's　been　a　bitter　dose
to　this　family！　　As　soon　as　I　saw　Ellen　have　a　letter　I　was　sure　it　was
from　him；　and　she　ought　to　be　ashamed。　　If　I　had　played　the　simpleton
with　such　a　fellow　I　guess　you　wouldn't　have　let　me　keep　you　from　going
to　Europe　very　much。　　What　is　she　going　to　do　now？　　Marry　him？　　Or
doesn't　he　want　her　to？〃

〃Lottie！〃　said　her　mother；　and　her　father　glanced　up　at　her　with　a　face
that　silenced　her。

〃When　you've　been　half　as　good　a　girl　as　Ellen　has　been；　in　this　whole
matter；〃　he　said；　darkly；　〃it　will　be　time　for　you　to　complain　of　the　way
you've　been　treated。〃

〃Oh　yes；　I　know　you　like　Ellen　the　best；〃　said　the　girl；　defiantly。

〃Don't　say　such　a　thing；　Lottie！〃　　said　her　mother。　　〃Your　father　loves
all　his　children　alike；　and　I　won't　have　you　talking　so　to　him。　　Ellen
has　had　a　great　deal　to　bear；　and　she　has　behaved　beautifully。　　If　we　are
not　going　to　Europe　it　is　because　we　have　decided　that　it　is　best　not　to
go；　and　I　wish　to　hear　nothing　more　from　you　about　it。〃

〃Oh　yes！　　And　a　nice　position　it　leaves　me　in；　when　I've　been　taking
good…bye　of　everybody！　　Well；　I　hope　to　goodness　you　won't　say　anything
about　it　till　the　Plumptons　get　away。　　I　couldn't　have　the　face　to　meet
them　if　you　did。〃

〃It　won't　be　necessary　to　say　anything；　or　you　can　say　that　we've　merely
postponed　our　sailing。　　People　are　always　doing　that。〃

〃It's　not　to　be　a　postponement；〃　said　Kenton；　so　sternly　that　no　one
ventured　to　dispute　him；　the　children　because　they　were　afraid　of　him；
and　their　mother　because　she　was　suffering　for　him。

At　the　steamship　office；　however；　the　authorities　represented　that　it　was
now　so　near　the　date　of　his　sailing　that　they　could　not　allow　him　to
relinquish　his　passages　except　at　his　own　risk。　　They　would　try　to　sell
his　ticket　for　him；　but　they　could　not　take　it　back；　and　they　could　not
promise　to　sell　it。　　There　was　reason　in　what　they　said；　but　if　there　had
been　none；　they　had　the　four　hundred　dollars　which　Kenton　had　paid　for
his　five　berths　and　they　had　at　least　the　advantage　of　him　in　the
argument　by　that　means。　　He　put　the　ticket　back　in　his　pocket…book
without　attempting　to　answer　them；　and　deferred　his　decision　till　he
could　advise　with　his　wife；　who；　after　he　left　the　breakfast…table　upon
his　errand　to　the　steamship　office；　had　abandoned　her　children　to　their
own　devices；　and　gone　to　scold　Ellen　for　not　eating。

She　had　not　the　heart　to　scold　her　when　she　found　the　girl　lying　face
downward　in　the　pillow；　with　her　thin　arms　thrown　up　through　the　coils
and　heaps　of　her　loose…flung　hair。　　She　was　so　alight　that　her　figure
scarcely　defined　itself　under　the　bedclothes；　the　dark　hair；　and　the
white；　outstretched　arms　seemed　all　there　was　of　her。　　She　did　not　stir；
but　her　mother　knew　she　was　not　sleeping。　　〃Ellen；〃　she　said；　gently；
〃you　needn't　be　troubled　about　our　going　to　Europe。　　Your　father　has　gone
down　to　the　steamship　office　to　give　back　his　ticket。〃

The　girl　flashed　her　face　round　with　nervous　quickness。　　〃Gone　to　give
back　his　ticket！〃

〃Yes；　we　decided　it　last　night。　　He's　never　really　wanted　to　go；　and〃

〃But　I　don't　wish　poppa　to　give　up　his　ticket！〃　　said　Ellen。　　〃He　must
get　it　again。　　I　shall　die　if　I　stay　here；　momma。　　We　have　got　to　go。　
Can't　you　understand　that？〃

Mrs。　Kenton　did　not　know　what　to　answer。　　She　had　a　strong　superficial
desire　to　shake　her　daughter　as　a　naughty　child　which　has　vexed　its
mother；　but　under　this　was　a　stir　stronger　pity　for　her　as　a　woman；　which
easily；　prevailed。　　〃Why；　but；　Ellen　dear！　　We　thought　from　what　you　said
last　night〃

〃But　couldn't　you　SEE；〃　the　girl　reproached　her；　and　she　began　to　cry；
and　turned　her　face　into　the　pillow　again　and　lay　sobbing。

〃Well；〃　said　her　mother；　after　she　had　given　her　a　little　time；　〃you
needn't　be　troubled。　　Your　father　can　easily　get　the　ticket　again；　he　can
telephone　down　for　it。　　Nothing　has　been　done　yet。　　But　didn't　you　really
want　to　stay；　then？〃

〃It　isn't　whether　I　want　to　stay　or　not；〃　Ellen　spoke　into　her　pillow。　
〃You　know　that。　　You　know　that　I　have　got　to　go。　　You　know　that　if　I　saw
himOh；　why　do　you　make　me　talk？〃

〃Yes；　I　understand；　child。〃　　Then；　in　the　imperious　necessity　of　blaming
some　one；　Mrs。　Kenton　added：　〃You　know　how　it　is　with　your　father。　　He　is
always　so　precipitate；　and　when　he　heard　what　you　said；　last　night；　it
cut　him　to　the　heart。　　He　felt　as　if　he　were　dragging　you　away；　and　this
morning　he　could　hardly　wait　to　get　through　his　breakfast　before　he
rushed　down　to　the　steamship　office。　　But　now　it's　all　right　again；　and
if　you　want　to　go；　we'll　go；　and　your　father　will　only　be　too　glad。〃

〃I　don't　want　father　to　go　against　his　will。　　You　said　he　never　wanted　to
go　to　Europe。〃　　The　girl　had　turned　her　face　upon　her　mother　again；　and
fixed　her　with　her　tearful；　accusing　eyes。

〃The　doctors　say　he　ought　to　go。　　He　needs　the　change；　and　I　think　we
should　all　be　the　better　far　getting　away。〃

〃I　shall　not；〃　said　Ellen。　　〃But　if　I　don't〃

〃Yes；〃　said　her　mother；　soothingly。

〃You　know　that　nothing　has　changed。　　He　hasn't　changed　and　I　haven't。　　If
he　was　bad；　he's　as　bad　as　ever；　and　I'm　just　as　silly。　　Oh；　it's　like　a
drunkard！　　I　suppose　they　know　it's　killing　them；　but　they　can't　give　it
up！　　Don't　you　think　it's　very　strange；　momma？　　I　don't　see　why　I　should
be　so。　　It　seems　as　if　I　had　no　character　at　all；　and　I　despise　myself
so！　　Do　you　believe　I　shall　ever　get　over　it？　　Sometimes　I　think　the　best
thing　for　me　would　be　to　go　into　an　asylum。〃

〃Oh　yes；　dear；　you'll　get　over　it；　and　forget　it　all。　　As　soon　as　you　see
othersother　scenesand　get　interested〃

〃And　you　don't　you　don't　think　I'd　better　let　him　come；　and〃

〃Ellen！〃

Ellen　began　to　sob　again；　and　toss　her　head　upon　the　pillow。　　〃What　shall
I　do？　　What　shall　I　do？〃　she　wailed。　　〃He　hasn't　ever　done　anything　bad
to　me；　and　if　I　can　overlook　hishis　flirtingwith　that　horrid　thing；
I　don't　know　what　the　rest　of　you　have　got　to　say。　　And　he　says　he　can
explain　everything。　　Why　shouldn't　I　give　him　the　chance；　momma？　　I　do
think　it　is　acting　very　cruel　not　to　let　him　even　say　a　word。〃

〃You　can　see　him　if　you　wish；　Ellen；〃　said　her　mother；　gravely。　　〃Your
father　and　I　have　always　said　that。　　And　perhaps　it　would　be　the　best
thing；　after　all。〃

〃Oh；　you　say　that　because　you　think　that　if　I　did　see　him；　I　should　be　so
disgusted　with　him　that　I'd　never　want　to　speak　to　him　again。　　But　what
if　I　shouldn't？〃

〃Then　we　should　wish　you　to　do　whatever　you　thought　was　for　your
happiness；　Ellen。　　We　can't　believe　it　would　be　for　your　good；　but　if　it
would　be　for　your　happiness；　we　are　willing。　　Or；　if　you　don't　think　it's
for　your　happiness；　but　only　for　his；　and　you　wish　to　do　it；　still　we
shall　be　willing；　and　you　know　that　as　far　as　your　father　and　I　are
concerned；　there　will　never　be　a　word　of　reproachnot　a　whisper。〃

〃Lottie　would　despise　me；　and　what　would　Richard　say？〃

〃Richard　would　never　say　anything　to　wound　you；　dear；　and　if　you　don't
despise　yourself；　you　needn't　mind　Lottie。〃

〃But　I　should；　momma；　that's　the　worst　of　it！　　I　should　despise　myself；
and　he　would　despise　me　too。　　No；　if　I　see　him；　I　am　going　to　do　it
because　I　am　selfish　and　wicked；　and　wish　to　have　my　own　way；　no　matter
who　is　harmed　by　it；　oranything；　and　I'm　not　going　to　have　it　put　on
any　other　ground。　　I　could　see　him；〃　she　said；　as　if　to　herself；　〃just
once　moreonly　once　moreand　then　if　I　didn't　believe　in　him；　I　could
start　right　off　to　Europe。〃

Her　mother　made　no　answer　to　this；　and　Ellen　lay　awhile　apparently
forgetful　of　her　presence；　inwardly　dramatizing　a　passionate　scene　of
dismissal　between　herself　and　her　false　lover。　　She　roused　herself　from
the　reverie　with　a　long　sigh；　and　her　mother　said；　〃Won't　you　have　some
breakfast；　now；　Ellen？〃

〃Yes；　and　I　will　get　up。　　You　needn't　be　troubled　any　more　about　me；
momma。　　I　will　write　to　him　not　to　come；　and　poppa　must　go　back　and　get
his　ticket　again。〃

〃Not　unless　you　are　doing　this　of　your　own　free　will；　child。　　I　can't
have　you　feeling　that　we　are　putting　any　pressure　upon　you。〃

〃You're　not。　　I'm　doing　it　of　my　own　will。　　If　it　isn't　my　free　will；
that　isn't　your　fault。　　I　wonder　whose　fault　it　is？　　Mine；　or　what　made
me　so　silly　and　weak？〃

〃You　are　not　sill