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dark。 It was understood that he might freely do this； and though the
judge inwardly fretted； he could not deny the boy the comfort of his
mother's encouraging love。 Boyne's visits woke him； but he slept the
better for indulging in the young nerves that tremor from impressions
against which the old nerves are proof。 But now； in the strange fatality
which seemed to involve him； Boyne could not go to his mother。 It was
too weirdly intimate； even for her； besides； when he had already tried to
seek her counsel she had ignorantly repelled him。
The night after his day in The Hague； when he could bear it no longer； he
put on his dressing…gown and softly opened Ellen's door； awake； Ellen？〃
he whispered。
〃Yes； What is it； Boyne〃 her gentle voice asked。
〃He came and sat down by her bed and stole his hand into hers； which she
put out to him。 The watery moonlight dripped into the room at the edges
of the shades； and the long wash of the sea made itself regularly heard
on the sands。
〃Can't you sleep？〃 Ellen asked again。 〃Are you homesick？〃
〃Not exactly that。 But it does seem rather strange for us to be off here
so far； doesn't it？〃
〃Yes； I don't see how I can forgive myself for making you come；〃 said
Ellen； but her voice did not sound as if she were very unhappy。
〃You couldn't help it；〃 said Boyne； and the words suggested a question to
him。 〃Do you believe that such things are ordered； Ellen？〃
〃Everything is ordered； isn't it？〃
〃I suppose so。 And if they are； we're not； to blame for what happens。〃
〃Not if we try to do right。〃
〃Of course。 The Kentons always do that；〃 said Boyne； with the faith in
his family that did not fail him in the darkest hour。 〃But what I mean
is that if anything comes on you that you can't foresee and you can't get
out of〃 The next step was not clear； and Boyne paused。 He asked；
〃Do you think that we can control our feelings； Ellen？〃
〃About what？〃
〃Well； about persons that we like。〃 He added； for safety； 〃Or dislike。〃
〃I'm afraid not；〃 said Ellen； sadly； 〃We ought to like persons and
dislike them for some good reason； but we don't。〃
〃Yes； that's what I mean；〃 said Borne； with a long breath。 〃Sometimes it
seems like a kind of possession； doesn't it？〃
〃It seems more like that when we like them；〃 Ellen said。
〃Yes； that's what I mean。 If a person was to take a fancy to some one
that was above him； that was richer； or older； he wouldn't be to blame
for it； would he？〃
〃Was that what you wanted to ask me about？〃
Borne hesitated。 〃Yes〃 he said。 He was in for it now。
Ellen had not noticed Boyne's absorption with Miss Rasmith on the ship；
but she vaguely remembered hearing Lottie tease him about her； and she
said now； 〃He wouldn't be to blame for it if he couldn't help it； but if
the person was much older it would be a pity！〃
〃Uh； she isn't so very much older；〃 said Borne； more cheerfully than he
had spoken before。
〃Is it somebody that you have taken a fancy to Borne？〃
〃I don't know； Ellen。 That's what makes it so kind of awful。 I can't
tell whether it's a real fancy； or I only think it is。 Sometimes I think
it is； and sometimes I think that I think so because I am afraid to
believe it。 Do you under Ellen？〃
〃It seems to me that I do。 But you oughtn't to let your fancy run away
with you； Boyne。 What a queer boy！〃
〃It's a kind of fascination； I suppose。 But whether it's a real fancy or
an unreal one； I can't get away from it。〃
〃Poor boy！〃 said his sister。
〃Perhaps it's those books。 Sometimes I think it is； and I laugh at the
whole idea； and then again it's so strong that I can't get away from it。
Ellen！〃
〃Well； Boyne？〃
I could tell you who it is； if you think that would do any goodif you
think it would help me to see it in the true light； or you could help me
more by knowing who it is than you can now。〃
〃I hope it isn't anybody that you can't respect； Boyne？〃
〃No； indeed！ It's somebody you would never dream of。〃
〃Well？〃 Ellen was waiting for him to speak； but he could not get the
words out； even to her。
〃I guess I'll tell you some other time。 Maybe I can get over it myself。〃
〃It would be the best way if you could。〃
He rose and left her bedside； and then he came back。 〃 Ellen； I've got
something that I wish you would keep for me。〃
〃What is it？ Of course I will。〃
〃Well； it'ssomething I don't want you to let Lottie know I've got。
She tells that Mr。 Trannel everything； and then he wants to make fun。
Do you think he's so very witty？〃
〃I can't help laughing at some things he says。〃
〃I suppose he is；〃 Boyne ruefully admitted。 〃But that doesn't make you
like him any better。 Well； if you won't tell Lottie； I'll give it to you
now。〃
〃I won't tell anything that you don't want me to； Boyne。〃
〃It's nothing。 It's just…a picture of the Queen on porcelain； that I got
in The Hague。 The guide took me into the store； and I thought I ought to
get something。〃
〃Oh； that's very nice； Boyne。 I do like the Queen so much。 She's so
sweet！〃
〃Yes； isn't she？〃 said Boyne； glad of Ellen's approval。 So far； at
least； he was not wrong。 〃Here it is now。〃
He put the miniature in Ellen's hand。 She lifted herself on her elbow。
〃Light the candle and let me see it。〃
〃No； no！〃 he entreated。 〃It might wake Lottie； andand Good…night；
Ellen。〃
〃Can you go to sleep now； Boyne？〃
〃Oh yes。 I'm all right。 Good…night。〃
〃Good…night； then。〃
Borne stooped over and kissed her； and went to the door。 He came back
and asked； 〃You don't think it was silly； or anything； for me to get it？〃
〃No； indeed！ It's just what you will like to have when you get home。
We've all seen her so often。 I'll put it in my trunk； and nobody shall
know about it till we're safely back in Tuskingum。〃
Boyne sighed deeply。 〃Yes； that's what I meant。 Good…night。〃
〃Good…night； Boyne。〃
〃I hope I haven't waked you up too much？〃
〃Oh no。 I can get to sleep easily again。〃
〃Well； good…night。〃 Boyne sighed again； but not so deeply； and this time
he went out。
XXII。
Mrs。 Kenton woke with the clear vision which is sometimes vouchsafed to
people whose eyes are holden at other hours of the day。 She had heard
Boyne opening and shutting Ellen's door； and her heart smote her that he
should have gone to his sister with whatever trouble he was in rather
than come to his mother。 It was natural that she should put the blame on
her husband； and 〃Now； Mr。 Kenton；〃 she began； with an austerity of voice
which he recognized before he was well awake； 〃if you won't take Boyne
off somewhere to…day； I will。 I think we had better all go。 We have
been here a whole fortnight； and we have got thoroughly rested； and there
is no excuse for our wasting our time any longer。 If we are going to see
Holland； we had better begin doing it。〃
The judge gave a general assent； and said that if she wanted to go to
Flushing he supposed he could find some garden…seeds there； in the flower
and vegetable nurseries； which would be adapted to the climate of
Tuskingum； and they could all put in the day pleasantly； looking round
the place。 Whether it was the suggestion of Tuskingum in relation to
Flushing that decided her against the place； or whether she had really
meant to go to Leyden； she now expressed the wish； as vividly as if it
were novel； to explore the scene of the Pilgrims' sojourn before they
sailed for Plymouth； and she reproached him for not caring about the
place when they both used to take such an interest in it at home。
〃Well；〃 said the judge； 〃if I were at home I should take an interest in
it here。〃
This provoked her to a silence which he thought it best to break in tacit
compliance with her wish； and he asked； 〃Do you propose taking the whole
family and the appurtenances？ We shall be rather a large party。〃
〃Ellen would wish to go； and I suppose Mr。 Breckon。 We couldn't very
well go without them。〃
〃And how about Lottie and that young Trannel？〃
〃We can't leave him out； very well。 I wish we could。 I don't like him。〃
〃There's nothing easier than not asking him； if you don't want him。〃
〃Yes； there is； when you've got a girl