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Breckon had an opportunity not fully offered him before to note a
likeness between himself and a fellow…man whom he was aware of not
liking； though he tried to love him； as he felt it right to love all men。
He thought he had not been quite sympathetic enough with Mrs。 Kenton in
her having to stay behind； and he tried to make it up to Mr。 Trannel in
his having to come。 He invented civilities to show him； and ceded his
place next Ellen as if Trannel had a right to it。 Trannel ignored him in
keeping it； unless it was recognizing Breckon to say； 〃Oh； I hope I'm not
in your way； old fellow？〃 and then making jokes to Ellen。 Breckon could
not say the jokes were bad； though the taste of them seemed to him so。
The man had a fleering wit； which scorched whatever he turned it upon；
and yet it was wit。 〃Why don't you try him in American？〃 he asked at
the failure of Breckon and the tram conductor to understand each other in
Dutch。 He tried the conductor himself in American； and he was so
deplorably funny that it was hard for Breckon to help being 'particeps
criminus'； at least in a laugh。
He asked himself if that were really the kind of man he was； and he grew
silent and melancholy in the fear that it was a good deal the sort of
man。 To this morbid fancy Trannel seemed himself in a sort of excess；
or what he would be if he were logically ultimated。 He remembered all
the triviality of his behavior with Ellen at first； and rather sickened
at the thought of some of his early pleasantries。 She was talking gayly
now with Trannel； and Breckon wondered whether she was falling under the
charm that he felt in him； in spite of himself。
If she was； her father was not。 The judge sat on the other side of the
car； and unmistakably glowered at the fellow's attempts to make himself
amusing to Ellen。 Trannel himself was not insensible to the judge's
mood。 Now and then he said something to intensify it。 He patronized the
judge and he made fun of the tourist character in which Boyne had got
himself up； with a field…glass slung by a strap under one arm and a red
Baedeker in his hand。 He sputtered with malign laughter at a rather
gorgeous necktie which Boyne had put on for the day； and said it was not
a very good match for the Baedeker。
Boyne retorted rudely； and that amused Trannel still more。 He became
personal to Breckon； and noted the unclerical cut of his clothes。 He
said he ought to have put on his uniform for an expedition like that； in
case they got into any sort of trouble。 To Ellen alone he was
inoffensive； unless he overdid his polite attentions to her in carrying
her parasol for her； and helping her out of the tram； when they arrived；
shouldering every one else away； and making haste to separate her from
the others and then to walk on with her a little in advance。
Suddenly he dropped her； and fell back to Boyne and his father； while
Breckon hastened forward to her side。 Trannel put his arm across Boyne's
shoulders and asked him if he were mad； and then laughed at him。 〃You're
all right； Boyne； but you oughtn't to be so approachable。 You ought to
put on more dignity； and repel familiarity！〃
Boyne could only twitch away in silence that he made as haughty as he
could； but not so haughty that Trannel did not find it laughable； and he
laughed in a teasing way that made Breckon more and more serious。 He was
aware of becoming even solemn with the question of his likeness to
Trannel。 He was of Trannel's quality； and their difference was a matter
of quantity； and there was not enough difference。 In his sense of their
likeness Breckon vowed himself to a gravity of behavior evermore which he
should not probably be able to observe； but the sample he now displayed
did not escape the keen vigilance of Trannel。
〃With the exception of Miss Kenton；〃 he addressed himself to the party；
〃you're all so easy and careless that if you don't look out you'll lose
me。 Miss Kenton； I wish you would keep an eye on me。 I don't want to
get lost。〃
Ellen laughedshe could not help itand her laughing made it less
possible than before for Breckon to unbend and meet Trannel on his own
ground； to give him joke for joke； to exchange banter with him。 He might
never have been willing to do that； but now he shrank from it； in his
realization of their likeness； with an abhorrence that rendered him
rigid。
The judge was walking ahead with Boyne； and his back expressed such
severe disapproval that； between her fear that Trannel would say
something to bring her father's condemnation on him and her sense of
their inhospitable attitude towards one who was their guest； in a sort；
she said； with her gentle gayety； 〃Then you must keep near me； Mr。
Trannel。 I'll see that nothing happens。〃
〃That's very sweet of you；〃 said Trannel； soberly。 Whether he had now
vented his malicious humor and was ready to make himself agreeable； or
was somewhat quelled by the unfriendly ambient he had created； or was
wrought upon by her friendliness； he became everything that could be
wished in a companion for a day's pleasure。 He took the lead at the
station； and got them a compartment in the car to themselves for the
little run to Leyden； and on the way he talked very well。 He politely
borrowed Boyne's Baedeker； and decided for the party what they had best
see； and showed an acceptable intelligence； as well as a large experience
in the claims of Leyden upon the visitor's interest。 He had been there
often before； it seemed； and in the event it appeared that he had chosen
the days sightseeing wisely。
He no longer addressed himself respectfully to Ellen alone； but he re…
established himself in Boyne's confidence with especial pains； and he
conciliated Breckon by a recognition of his priority with Ellen with a
delicacy refined enough for even the susceptibility of a lover alarmed
for his rights。 If he could not overcome the reluctance of the judge；
he brought him to the civil response which any one who tried for Kenton's
liking achieved； even if he did not merit it； and there remained no more
reserve in Kenton's manner than there had been with the young man from
the first。 He had never been a persona grata to the judge； and if he did
not become so now； he at least ceased to be actively displeasing。
That was the year before the young Queen came to her own； and in the last
days of her minority she was visiting all the cities of her future
dominion with the queen…mother。 When Kenton's party left the station
they found Leyden as gay for her reception as flags and banners could
make the gray old town； and Trannel relapsed for a moment so far as to
suggest that the decorations were in honor of Boyne's presence； but he
did not abuse the laugh that this made to Boyne's further shame。
There was no carriage at the station which would hold the party of five；
and they had to take two vehicles。 Trannel said it was lucky they wanted
two； since there were no more； and he put himself in authority to assort
the party。 The judge； he decided； must go with Ellen and Breckon； and he
hoped Boyne would let him go in his carriage； if he would sit on the box
with the driver。 The judge afterwards owned that he had weakly indulged
his dislike of the fellow； in letting him take Boyne； and not insisting
on going himself with Tramiel； but this was when it was long too late。
Ellen had her misgivings； but； except for that gibe about the
decorations； Trannel had been behaving so well that she hoped she might
trust Boyne with him。 She made a kind of appeal for her brother； bidding
him and Trannel take good care of each other； and Trannel promised so
earnestly to look after Boyne that she ought to have been alarmed for
him。 He took the lead； rising at times to wave a reassuring hand to her
over the back of his carriage； and； in fact； nothing evil could very well
happen from him； with the others following so close upon him。 They met
from time to time in the churches they visited； and when they lost sight
of one another； through a difference of opinion in the drivers as to the
best route； they came together at the place Trannel had appointed for
their next reunion。
He showed himsel