the kentons-第9部分

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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　the　invitation　had　been
of　the　form　that　one　might　decline。　　〃What　do　I　want　to　see　him　for？〃　　he
puffed。　　〃He　never　cared　anything　about　me　in　Tuskingum。　　What's　he　want
here；　anyway？〃

〃I　wish　you　to　come　in；　my　son；〃　said　his　mother；　and　that　ended　it。

Lottie　was　not　so　tractable。　　〃Very　well；　momma；〃　she　said。　　〃But　don't
expect　me　to　speak　to　him。　　I　have　some　little　self…respect；　if　the　rest
of　you　haven't。　　Am　I　going　to　shake　hands　with　him！　　I　never　took　the
least　notice　of　him　at　home；　and　I'm　not　going　to　here。〃

Bittridge　decided　the　question　of　hand…shaking　for　her　when　they　met。　　He
greeted　her　glooming　brother　with　a　jolly　〃Hello；　Boyne！〃　　and　without
waiting　for　the　boy's　tardy　response　he　said　〃Hello；　Lottie！〃　　to　the
girl；　and　took　her　hand　and　kept　it　in　his　while　he　made　an　elaborate
compliment　to　her　good　looks　and　her　gain　in　weight。　　She　had　come
tardily　as　a　proof　that　she　would　not　have　come　in　at　all　if　she　had　not
chosen　to　do　so；　and　Mrs。　Bittridge　was　already　seated　beside　Ellen　on
the　sofa；　holding　her　hand；　and　trying　to　keep　her　mobile；　inattentive
eyes　upon　Ellen's　face。　　She　was　a　little　woman；　youthfully　dressed；　but
not　dressed　youthfully　enough　for　the　dry；　yellow　hair　which　curled
tightly　in　small　rings　on　her　skull；　like　the　wig　of　a　rag…doll。　　Her
restless　eyes　were　round　and　deep…set；　with　the　lids　flung　up　out　of
sight；　she　had　a　lax；　formless　mouth；　and　an　anxious　smile；　with　which
she　constantly　watched　her　son　for　his　initiative；　while　she　recollected
herself　from　time　to　time；　long　enough　to　smooth　Ellen's　hand　between　her
own；　and　say；　〃Oh；　I　just　think　the　world　of　Clarence；　and　I　guess　he
thinks　his　mother　is　about　right；　too；〃　and　then　did　not　heed　what　Ellen
answered。

The　girl　said　very　little；　and　it　was　Bittridge　who　talked　for　all；
dominating　the　room　with　a　large；　satisfied　presence；　in　which　the　judge
sat　withdrawn；　his　forehead　supported　on　his　hand；　and　his　elbow　on　the
table。　　Mrs。　Kenton　held　herself　upright；　with