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〃I thought we talked of my going to Paris。〃 Breckon looked round at her；
and she made a gesture of deprecation。
〃Why； of course！ How could I forget？ But I'm so much interested in Miss
Kenton that I can't think of anything else。〃
〃Not even of Miss Rasmith？〃
〃Not even of Miss Rasmith。 I know that she has a history； and that it's
a sad one。〃 She paused in ironical hesitation。 〃You've been so good as
to caution me about her brotherand I never can be grateful enoughand
that makes me almost free to suggest〃
She stopped again； and he asked； hardily； 〃What？〃
〃Oh； nothing。 It isn't for me to remind my pastor； my ghostly adviser〃
she pulled down her mouth and glanced at him demurely〃 and I will only
offer the generalization that a girl is never so much in danger of having
her heart broken as when she's had it brokenOh； are you leaving me？〃
she cried； as Breckon rose from his chair。
〃Well； then； send Boyne to me。〃 She broke into a laugh as he faltered。
〃Are you going to sit down again？ That is right。 And I won't talk any
more about Miss Kenton。〃
〃I don't mind talking of her；〃 said Breckon。 〃Perhaps it will even be
well to do so if you are in earnest。 Though it strikes me that you have
rather renounced the right to criticise me。〃
〃Now； is that logical？ It seems to me that in putting myself in the
attitude of a final friend at the start； and refusing to be anything
more； I leave established my right to criticise you on the firmest basis。
I can't possibly be suspected of interested motives。 Besides； you've
just been criticizing me； if you want a woman's reason！〃
〃Well； go on。〃
〃Why； I had finished。 That's the amusing part。 I should have supposed
that I could go on forever about Miss Kenton； but I have nothing to go
upon。 She has kept her secret very well； and so have the rest of them。
You think I might have got it out of Boyne？ Perhaps I might； but you
know I have my little scruples。 I don't think it would he quite fair； or
quite nice。〃
〃You are scrupulous。 And I give you credit for having been more delicate
than I've been。〃
〃You don't mean you've been trying to find it out！〃
〃Ah； now I'm not sure about the superior delicacy！〃
〃Oh； how good！〃 said Miss Rasmith。 〃 What a pity you should be wasted
in a calling that limits you so much。〃
〃You call it limiting？ I didn't know but I had gone too far。〃
〃Not at all！ You know there's nothing I like so much as those little
digs。〃
〃I had forgotten。 Then you won't mind my saying that this surveillance
seems to me rather more than I have any right to from you。〃
〃How exquisitely you put it！ Who else could have told me to mind my own
business so delightfully？ Well； it isn't my business。 I acknowledge
that； and I spoke only because I knew you would be sorry if you had gone
too far。 I remembered our promise to be friends。〃
She threw a touch of real feeling into her tone； and he responded； 〃Yes；
and I thank you for it； though it isn't easy。〃
She put out her hand to him； and； as he questioningly took it； she
pressed his with animation。 〃 Of course it isn't！ Or it wouldn't be for
any other man。 But don't you suppose I appreciate that supreme courage
of yours？ There is nobody else…nobody！who could stand up to an
impertinence and turn it to praise by such humility。〃
〃Don't go too far； or I shall be turning your praise to impertinence by
my humility。 You're quite right； though； about the main matter。 I
needn't suppose anything so preposterous as you suggest； to feel that
people are best left alone to outlive their troubles； unless they are of
the most obvious kind。〃
〃Now； if I thought I had done anything to stop you from offering that
sort of helpfulness which makes you a blessing to everybody； I should
never forgive myself。〃
〃Nothing so dire as that； I believe。 But if you've made me question the
propriety of applying the blessing in all cases； you have done a very
good thing。〃
Miss Rasmith was silent and apparently serious。 After a moment she said；
〃And I； for my part； promise to let poor little Boyne alone。〃
Breckon laughed。 〃Don't burlesque it！ Besides； I haven't promised
anything。〃
〃That is very true；〃 said Miss Rasmith； and she laughed； too。
XVI。
In one of those dramatic reveries which we all hold with ourselves when
fortune has pressingly placed us； Ellen Kenton had imagined it possible
for her to tell her story to the man who had so gently and truly tried to
be her friend。 It was mostly in the way of explaining to him how she was
unworthy of his friendship that the story was told； and she fancied
telling it without being scandalized at violating the conventions that
should have kept her from even dreaming of such a thing。 It was all
exalted to a plane where there was no question of fit or unfit in doing
it； but only the occasion； and he would never hear of the unworthiness
which she wished to ascribe to herself。 Sometimes he mournfully left her
when she persisted； left her forever； and sometimes he refused； and
retained with her in a sublime kindness； a noble amity； lofty and serene；
which did not seek to become anything else。 In this case she would break
from her reveries with self…accusing cries； under her breath； of 〃Silly；
silly！ Oh； how disgusting！〃 and if at that moment Breckon were really
coming up to sit by her； she would blush to her hair； and wish to run
away； and failing the force for this； would sit cold and blank to his
civilities； and have to be skilfully and gradually talked back to self…
respect and self…tolerance。
The recurrence of these reveries and their consequence in her made it
difficult for him to put in effect the promise he had given himself in
Miss Rasmith's presence。 If Ellen had been eager to welcome his coming；
it would have been very simple to keep away from her； but as she appeared
anxious to escape him； and had to be entreated； as it were； to suffer his
society； something better than his curiosity was piqued； though that was
piqued； too。 He believed that he saw her lapsing again into that morbid
state from which he had seemed once able to save her； and he could not
help trying again。 He was the more bound to do so by the ironical
observance of Miss Rasmith； who had to be defied first； and then
propitiated； certainly； when she saw him apparently breaking faith with
her； she had a right to some sort of explanation； but certainly also she
had no right to a blind and unreasoning submission from him。 His
embarrassment was heightened by her interest in Miss Kenton； whom； with
an admirable show of now finding her safe from Breckon's attractions； she
was always wishing to study from his observation。 What was she really
like？ The girl had a perfect fascination for her； she envied him his
opportunities of knowing her； and his privileges of making that
melancholy face light up with that heart…breaking smile； and of banishing
that delicious shyness with which she always seemed to meet him。 Miss
Rasmith had noticed it； how could she help noticing it？
Breckon wished to himself that she had been able to help noticing it； or
were more capable of minding her own business than she showed herself；
and his heart closed about Ellen with a tenderness that was dangerously
indignant。 At the same time he felt himself withheld by Miss Rasmith's
witness from being all to the girl that he wished to be； and that he now
seemed to have been in those first days of storm； while Miss Rasmith and
her mother were still keeping their cabin。 He foresaw that it would end
in Miss Rasmith's sympathetic nature not being able to withhold itself
from Ellen's need of cheerful companionship； and he was surprised； as
little as he was pleased； one morning； when he came to take the chair
beside her to find Miss Rasmith in it； talking and laughing to the girl；
who perversely showed herself amused。 Miss Rasmith made as if to offer
him the seat； but he had to go away disappointed； after standing long
enough before them to be aware that they were suspending some topic while
he stayed。
He naturally supposed the topic to be himself； but it was not so； or at
least not directly so。 It w