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〃Yes； that is the worst of it。 If they were bad； we wouldn't expect any
comfort from them。 Ellen is about perfect。 She's as near an angel as a
child can be； but she could hardly have given us more anxiety if she had
been the worst girl in the world。〃
〃That's true；〃 the father sadly assented。
〃She didn't really want to go with him to…night； I'll say that for her；
and if I had said a single word against it she wouldn't have gone。 But
all at once； while she sat there trying to think how I could excuse her；
she began asking me what she should wear。 There's something strange
about it； Rufus。 If I believed in hypnotism； I should say she had gone
because he willed her to go。〃
〃I guess she went because she wanted to go because she's in love with
him；〃 said Kenton； hopelessly。
〃Yes；〃 Mrs。 Kenton agreed。 〃I don't see how she can endure the sight of
him。 He's handsome enough；〃 she added； with a woman's subjective logic。
〃And there's something fascinating about him。 He's very graceful； and
he's got a good figure。〃
〃He's a hound！〃 said Kenton； exhaustively。
〃Oh yes； he's a hound；〃 she sighed； as if there could be no doubt on that
point。 〃It don't seem right for him to be in the same room with Ellen。
But it's for her to say。 I feel more and more that we can't interfere
without doing harm。 I suppose that if she were not so innocent herself
she would realize what he was better。 But I do think he appreciates her
innocence。 He shows more reverence for her than for any one else。〃
〃How was it his mother didn't go？〃 asked Kenton。
〃She had a headache； he said。 But I don't believe that。 He always
intended to get Ellen to go。 And that's another thing Lottie was vexed
about； she says everybody is laughing at Mrs。 Bittridge； and it's
mortifying to have people take her for a friend of ours。〃
〃If there were nothing worse than that；〃 said Kenton； 〃 I guess we could
live through it。 Well； I don't know how it's going to all end。〃
They sat talking sadly； but finding a certain comfort in their mutual
discouragement； and in their knowledge that they were doing the best they
could for their child； whose freedom they must not infringe so far as to
do what was absolutely best； and the time passed not so heavily till her
return。 This was announced by the mounting of the elevator to their
landing； and then by low； rapid pleading in a man's voice outside。
Kenton was about to open the door； when there came the formless noise of
what seemed a struggle； and Ellen's voice rose in a muffed cry： 〃Oh！ Oh！
Let me be！ Go away！ I hate you！〃 Kenton the door open； and Ellen burst
in； running to hide her face in her mother's breast； where she sobbed
out； 〃Hehe kissed me！〃 like a terrified child more than an insulted
woman。 Through the open door came the clatter of Bittridge's feet as he
ran down…stairs。
VII。
When Mrs。 Kenton came from quieting the hysterical girl in her room she
had the task； almost as delicate and difficult； of quieting her husband。
She had kept him； by the most solemn and exhaustive entreaty； from
following Bittridge downstairs and beating him with his stick； and now
she was answerable to him for his forbearance。 〃If yon don't behave
yourself； Rufus；〃 she had to say； 〃you will have some sort of stroke。
After all； there's no harm done。〃
〃No harm！ Do you call it no harm for that hound to kiss Ellen？〃
〃He wouldn't have attempted it unless something had led up to it； I
suppose。〃
〃Sarah！ How can you speak so of that angel？〃
〃Oh； that angel is a girl like the rest。 You kissed me before we were
engaged。〃
〃That was very different。〃
〃I don't see how。 If your daughter is so sacred； why wasn't her mother？
You men don't think your wives are sacred。 That's it！〃
〃No； no； Sarah！ It's because I don't think of you as apart from myself；
that I can't think of you as I do of Ellen。 I beg your pardon if I
seemed to set her above you。 But when I kissed you we were very young；
and we lived in a simple day； when such things meant no harm； and I was
very fond of you； and you were the holiest thing in the world to me。 Is
Ellen holy to that fellow？〃
〃I know；〃 Mrs。 Kenton relented。 〃I'm not comparing him to you。 And
there is a difference with Ellen。 She isn't like other girls。 If it had
been Lottie〃
〃I shouldn't have liked it with Lottie； either；〃 said the major； stiffly。
〃But if it had been Lottie she would have boxed his ears for him； instead
of running to you。 Lottie can take care of herself。 And I will take
care of Ellen。 When I see that scoundrel in the morning〃
〃What will you do； an old man like you！ I can tell you； it's something
you've just got to bear it if you don't want the scandal to fill the
whole hotel。 It's a very fortunate thing； after all。 It'll put an end
to the whole affair。〃
〃Do you think so； Sarah？ If I believed that。 What does Ellen say？〃
〃Nothing； she won't say anythingjust cries and hides her face。
I believe she is ashamed of having made a scene before us。 But I know
that she's so disgusted with him that she will never look at him again；
and if it's brought her to that I should think his kissing her the
greatest blessing in the world to us all。 Yes； Ellen！〃
Mrs。 Kenton hurried off at a faint call from the girl's room； and when
she came again she sat down to a long discussion of the situation with
her husband； while she slowly took down her hair and prepared it for the
night。 Her conclusion； which she made her husband's； was that it was
most fortunate they should be sailing so soon； and that it was the
greatest pity they were not sailing in the morning。 She wished him to
sleep； whether she slept herself or not； and she put the most hopeful
face possible upon the matter。 〃One thing you can rest assured of；
Rufus； and that is that it's all over with Ellen。 She may never speak to
you about him； and you mustn't ever mention him； but she feels just as
you could wish。 Does that satisfy you？ Some time I will tell you all
she says。〃
〃I don't care to hear；〃 said Kenton。 〃All I want is for him to keep away
from me。 I think if he spoke to me I should kill him。〃
〃Rufus！〃
〃I can't help it； Sarah。 I feel outraged to the bottom of my soul。 I
could kill him。〃
Mrs。 Kenton turned her head and looked steadfastly at him over her
shoulder。 〃If you strike him； if you touch him； Mr。 Kenton； you will
undo everything that the abominable wretch has done for Ellen； and you
will close my mouth and tie my hands。 Will you promise that under no
provocation whatever will you do him the least harm？ I know Ellen better
than you do； and I know that you will make her hate you unless〃
〃Oh； I will promise。 You needn't be afraid。 Lord help me！〃 Kenton
groaned。 〃I won't touch him。 But don't expect me to speak to him。〃
〃No； I don't expect that。 He won't offer to speak to you。〃
They slept； and in the morning she stayed to breakfast with Ellen in
their apartment； and let her husband go down with their younger children。
She could trust him now； whatever form his further trial should take； and
he felt that he was pledging himself to her anew； when Bittridge came
hilariously to meet him in the reading…room； where he went for a paper
after breakfast。
〃Ah； judge！〃 said the young man； gayly。 〃Hello； Boyne！〃 he added to
the boy； who had come with his father； Lottie had gone directly up…stairs
from the breakfast…room。 〃I hope you're all well this morning？ Play not
too much for Miss Ellen？〃
Kenton looked him in the face without answering； and then tried to get
away from him； but Bittridge followed him up； talking； and ignoring his
silence。
〃It was a splendid piece； judge。 You must take Mrs。 Kenton。 I know
you'll both like it。 I haven't ever seen Miss Ellen so interested。 I
hope the walk home didn't fatigue her。 I wanted to get a cab； but she
would walk： The judge kept moving on； with his head down。 He did not
speak； and Bittridge was forced to notice his silence。 〃Nothing the
matter； I hope； with Miss Ellen； judge？〃
〃Go away；〃 said the judge； in a low voice； fumbling the head of his
stick。
〃Why； what's up？〃 asked Bittridge； an