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He naturally supposed the topic to be himself； but it was not so； or at
least not directly so。 It was only himself as related to the scolding he
had given Miss Rasmith for trifling with the innocence of Boyne； which
she wished Miss Kenton to understand as the effect of a real affection
for her brother。 She loved all boys； and Boyne was simply the most
delightful creature in the world。 She went on to explain how delightful
he was； and showed a such an appreciation of the infantile sweetness
mingled with the mature severity of Boyne's character that Ellen could
not help being pleased and won。 She told some little stories of Boyne
that threw a light also their home life in Tuskingum； and Miss Rasmith
declared herself perfectly fascinated； and wished that she could go and
live in Tuskingum。 She protested that she should not find it dull； Boyne
alone would be entertainment enough； and she figured a circumstance so
idyllic from the hints she had gathered； that Ellen's brow darkened in
silent denial； and Miss Rasmith felt herself； as the children say in the
game； very hot in her proximity to the girl's secret。 She would have
liked to know it； but whether she felt that she could know it when she
liked enough； or whether she should not be so safe with Breckon in
knowing it； she veered suddenly away； and said that she was so glad to
have Boyne's family know the peculiar nature of her devotion； which did
not necessarily mean running away with him； though it might come to that。
She supposed she was a little morbid about it from what Mr。 Breckon had
been saying； he had a conscience that would break the peace of a whole
community； though he was the greatest possible favorite； not only with
his own congregation； which simply worshipped him； but with the best
society； where he was in constant request。
It was not her fault if she did not overdo these history； but perhaps it
was all true about the number of girls who were ready and willing to
marry him。 It might even be true； though she had no direct authority for
saying it； that he had made up his mind never to marry； and that was the
reason why he felt himself so safe in being the nicest sort of friend。
He was safe； Miss Rasmith philosophized； but whether other people were so
safe was a different question。 There were girls who were said to be
dying for him； but of course those things were always said about a
handsome young minister。 She had frankly taken him on his own ground；
from the beginning； and she believed that this was what he liked。 At any
rate； they had agreed that they were never to be anything but the best of
friends； and they always had been。
Mrs。 Kenton came and shyly took the chair on Miss Rasmith's other side；
and Miss Rasmith said they had been talking about Mr。 Breckon； and she
repeated what she had been saying to Ellen。 Mrs。 Kenton assented more
openly than Ellen could to her praises； but when she went away； and her
daughter sat passive； without comment or apparent interest； the mother
drew a long； involuntary sigh。
〃Do you like her； Ellen？〃
〃She tries to be pleasant； I think。〃
〃Do you think she really knows much about Mr。 Breckon？〃
〃Oh yes。 Why not？ She belongs to his church。〃
〃He doesn't seem to me like a person who would have a parcel of girls
tagging after him。〃
〃That is what they do in the East； Boyne says。〃
〃I wish she would let Boyne alone。 She is making a fool of the child。
He's round with her every moment。 I think she ought to be ashamed； such
an old thing！〃
Ellen chose to protest； or thought it fair to do so。 〃I don't believe
she is doing him any harm。 She just lets him talk out； and everybody
else checks him up so。 It was nice of her to come and talk with me； when
we had all been keeping away from her。 Perhaps he sent her； though。 She
says they have always been such good friends because she wouldn't be
anything else from the beginning。〃
〃I don't see why she need have told you that。〃
〃Oh； it was just to show he was run after。 I wonder if he thinks we are
running after him？ Momma； I am tired of him！ I wish he wouldn't speak
to me any more。〃
〃Why！ do you really dislike him； Ellen？〃
〃No； not dislike him。 But it tires me to have him trying to amuse me。
Don't you understand？〃
Mrs。 Kenton said yes； she understood； but she was clear only of the fact
that Ellen seemed flushed and weak at that moment。 She believed that it
was Miss Rasmith and not Mr。 Breckon who was to blame； but she said：
〃Well； you needn't worry about it long。 It will only be a day or two now
till we get to Boulogne； and then he will leave us。 Hadn't you better go
down now； and rest awhile in your berth？ I will bring your things。〃
Ellen rose； pulling her wraps from her skirts to give them to her mother。
A voice from behind said between their meeting shoulders： 〃Oh； are you
going down？ I was just coming to beg Miss Kenton to take a little walk
with me；〃 and they looked round together and met Breckon's smiling face。
〃I'm afraid；〃 Mrs。 Kenton began； and then； like a well…trained American
mother； she stopped and left the affair to her daughter。
〃Do you think you can get down with them； momma？〃 the girl asked； and
somehow her mother's heart was lightened by her evasion； not to call it
uncandor。 It was at least not morbid； it was at least like other girls；
and Mrs。 Kenton imparted what comfort there was in it to the judge； when
he asked where she had left Ellen。
〃Not that it's any use；〃 she sighed； when she had seen him share it with
a certain shamefacedness。 〃That woman has got her grip on him； and she
doesn't mean to let go。〃
Kenton understood Miss Rasmith by that woman； but he would not allow
himself to be so easily cast down。 This was one of the things that
provoked Mrs。 Kenton with him； when he had once taken hope he would not
abandon it without reason。 〃I don't see any evidence of her having her
grip on him。 I've noticed him； and he doesn't seem attentive to her。
I should say he tried to avoid her。 He certainly doesn't avoid Ellen。〃
〃What are you thinking of； Rufus？〃
〃What are you？ You know we'd both be glad if he fancied her。〃
〃Well； suppose we would？ I don't deny it。 He is one of the most
agreeable gentlemen I ever saw； one of the kindest and nicest。〃
〃He's more than that；〃 said the judge。 〃I've been sounding him on
various points； and I don't see where he's wrong。 Of course； I don't
know much about his religious persuasion； if it is one； but I think I'm a
pretty fair judge of character； and that young man has character。 He
isn't a light person； though he likes joking and laughing； and he
appreciates Ellen。〃
〃Yes； so do we。 And there's about as much prospect of his marrying her。
Rufus； it's pretty hard！ She's just in the mood to be taken with him；
but she won't let herself； because she knows it's of no use。 That Miss
Rasmith has been telling her how much he is run after； and I could see
that that settled it for Ellen as plainly as if she said so。 More
plainly； for there's enough of the girl in her to make her say one thing
when she means another。 She was just saying she was sick of him； and
never wanted to speak to him again； when he came up and asked her to
walk； and she went with him instantly。 I knew what she meant。 She
wasn't going to let him suppose that anything Miss Rasmith had said was
going to change her。〃
〃Well； then；〃 said the judge； 〃I don't see what you're scared at。〃
I'm not SCARED。 But； oh； Rufus！ It can't come to anything！ There isn't
time！〃 An hysterical hope trembled in her asseveration of despair that
made him smile。
〃I guess if time's all that's wanted〃
〃He is going to get off at Boulogne。〃
〃Well； we can get off there； too。〃
〃Rufus； if you dare to think of such a thing！〃
〃I don't。 But Europe isn't so big but what he can find us again if he
wants to。〃
〃Ah； if he wants to！〃
Ellen seemed to have let her mother take her languor below along with the
shawls she had given her。 Buttoned into a close jacket； and skirted
short for the sea； she pushed against the breeze at Breckon's elbow with
a vigor that made him look his surprise at her。 Girl…