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before。
〃The colonel's all right；〃 Richard called back； without looking round。
He walked up and down in front of the station。 A local train came in
from Ballardsville at 8。15； and waited for the New York special； and then
returned to Ballardsville。 Richard had bought a ticket for that station；
and was going to take the train back； but among the passengers who
descended from it when it drew in was one who saved him the trouble of
going。
Bittridge； with his overcoat hanging on his arm； advanced towards him
with the rest； and continued to advance； in a sort of fascination； after
his neighbors； with the instinct that something was about to happen；
parted on either side of Richard； and left the two men confronted。
Richard did not speak； but deliberately reached out his left hand； which
he caught securely into Bittridge's collar； then he began to beat him
with the cowhide wherever he could strike his writhing and twisting
shape。 Neither uttered a word； and except for the whir of the cowhide in
the air； and the rasping sound of its arrest upon the body of Bittridge；
the thing was done in perfect silence。 The witnesses stood well back in
a daze； from which they recovered when Richard released Bittridge with a
twist of the hand that tore his collar loose and left his cravat
dangling； and tossed the frayed cowhide away； and turned and walked
homeward。 Then one of them picked up Bittridge's hat and set it aslant
on his head； and others helped pull his collar together and tie his
cravat。
For the few moments that Richard Kenton remained in sight they scarcely
found words coherent enough for question； and when they did； Bittridge
had nothing but confused answers to give to the effect that he did not
know what it meant； but he would find out。 He got into a hack and had
himself driven to his hotel； but he never made the inquiry which he
threatened。
In his own house Richard Kenton lay down awhile； deadly sick； and his
wife had to bring him brandy before he could control his nerves
sufficiently to speak。 Then he told her what he had done； and why； and
Mary pulled off his shoes and put a hot…water bottle to his cold feet。
It was not exactly the treatment for a champion； but Mary Kenton was not
thinking of that； and when Richard said he still felt a little sick at
the stomach she wanted him to try a drop of camphor in addition to the
brandy。 She said he must not talk； but she wished him so much to talk
that she was glad when he began。
〃It seemed to be something I had to do； Mary； but I would give anything
if I had not been obliged to do it：
〃Yes； I know just how you feel； Dick； and I think it's pretty hard this
has come on you。 I do think Ellen might〃
〃It wasn't her fault； Mary。 You mustn't blame her。 She's had more to
bear than all the rest of us。〃 Mary looked stubbornly unconvinced； and
she was not moved； apparently； by what he went on to say。 〃The thing now
is to keep what I've done from making more mischief for her。〃
〃What do you mean； Dick？ You don't believe he'll do anything about it；
do you？〃
〃No； I'm not afraid of that。 His mouth is shut。 But you can't tell how
Ellen will take it。 She may side with him now。〃
〃Dick！ If I thought Ellen Kenton could be such a fool as that！〃
〃If she's in love with him she'll take his part。〃
〃But she can't be in love with him when she knows how he acted to your
father！〃
〃We can't be sure of that。 I know how he acted to father； but at this
minute I pity him so that I could take his part against father。 And I
can understand how Ellen Anyway； I must make a clean breast of it。
What day is this Thursday？ And they sail Saturday！ I must write〃
He lifted himself on his elbow； and made as if to throw off the shawl she
had spread upon him。
〃No； no！ I will write； Dick！ I will write to your mother。 What shall I
say？〃 She whirled about； and got the paper and ink out of her writing…
desk； and sat down near him to keep him from getting up； and wrote the
date； and the address； 〃Dear Mother Kenton；〃 which was the way she always
began her letters to Mrs。 Kenton； in order to distinguish her from her
own mother。 〃Now what shall I say？〃
〃Simply this；〃 answered Richard。 〃That I knew of what had happened in
New York； and when I met him this morning I cowhided him。 Ugh！〃
〃Well； that won't do； Dick。 You've got to tell all about it。 Your
mother won't understand。〃
〃Then you write what you please； and read it to me。 It makes me sick to
think of it。〃 Richard closed his eyes； and Mary wrote：
〃DEAR MOTHER KENTON；I am sitting by Richard； writing at his
request； about what he has done。 He received a letter from New York
telling him of the Bittridges' performances there； and how that
wretch had insulted and abused you all。 He bought a cowhide；
meaning to go over to Ballardsville； and use it on him there； but B。
came over on the Accommodation this morning； and Richard met him at
the station。 He did not attempt to resist； for Richard took him
quite by surprise。 Now； Mother Kenton； you know that Richard
doesn't approve of violence； and the dear； sweet soul is perfectly
broken…down by what he had to do。 But he had to do it； and he
wishes you to know at； once that he did it。 He dreads the effect
upon Ellen； and we must leave it to your judgment about telling her。
Of course； sooner or later she must find it out。 You need not be
alarmed about Richard。 He is just nauseated a little； and he will
be all right as soon as his stomach is settled。 He thinks you ought
to have this letter before you sail； and with affectionate good…byes
to all； in which Dick joins；
〃Your loving daughter；
〃Mary KENTON。〃
〃There！ Will that do？〃
〃Yes； that is everything that can be said；〃 answered Richard； and Mary
kissed him gratefully before sealing her letter。
〃I will put a special delivery on it；〃 she said； and her precaution
availed to have the letter delivered to Mrs。 Kenton the evening the
family left the hotel； when it was too late to make any change in their
plans； but in time to give her a bad night on the steamer； in her doubt
whether she ought to let the family go； with this trouble behind them。
But she would have had a bad night on the steamer in any case； with the
heat； and noise； and smell of the docks； and the steamer sailed with her
at six o'clock the next morning with the doubt still open in her mind。
The judge had not been of the least use to her in helping solve it； and
she had not been able to bring herself to attack Lottie for writing to
Richard。 She knew it was Lottie who had made the mischief； but she could
not be sure that it was mischief till she knew its effect upon Ellen。
The girl had been carried in the arms of one of the stewards from the
carriage to her berth in Lottie's room； and there she had lain through
the night； speechless and sleepless。
IX。
Ellen did not move or manifest any consciousness when the steamer left
her dock and moved out into the stream； or take any note of the tumult
that always attends a great liner's departure。 At breakfast…time her
mother came to her from one of the brief absences she made； in the hope
that at each turn she should find her in a different mood； and asked if
she would not have something to eat。
〃I'm not hungry；〃 she answered。 〃When will it sail？〃
〃Why； Ellen！ We sailed two hours ago； and the pilot has just left us。〃
Ellen lifted herself on her elbow and stared at her。 〃And you let me！〃
she said； cruelly。
〃Ellen！ I will not have this！〃 cried her mother； frantic at the
reproach。 〃What do you mean by my letting you？ You knew that we were
going to sail； didn't you？ What else did you suppose we had come to the
steamer for？〃
〃I supposed you would let me stay； if I wanted to： But go away； momma； go
away！ You're all against meyou； and poppa； and Lottie； and Boyne。 Oh；
dear！ oh； dear！〃 She threw herself down in her berth and covered her
face with the sheet； sobbing； while her mother stood by in an ang