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Before she came clown to breakfast the next morning she studied a stare
in her mirror； and practised it upon Trannel so successfully when he came
up to speak to her that it must have made him doubt whether he had ever
had her acquaintance。 In his doubt he ventured to address her； and then
Lottie turned her back upon him in a manner that was perfectly
convincing。 He attempted a smiling ease with Mrs。 Kenton and the judge；
but they shared neither his smile nor his ease； and his jocose questions
about the end of yesterday's adventures； which he had not been privy to；
did not seem to appeal to the American sense of humor in them。 Ellen was
not with them； nor Boyne； but Trannel was not asked to take either of the
vacant places at the table； even when Breckon took one of them； after a
decent exchange of civilities with him。 He could only saunter away and
leave Mrs。 Kenton to a little pang。
〃Tchk！〃 she made。 〃I'm sorry for him！〃
〃So am I；〃 said the judge。 〃But he will get over itonly too soon； I'm
afraid。 I don't believe he's very sorry for himself。〃
They had not advised with Breckon； and he did not feel authorized to make
any comment。 He seemed preoccupied； to Mrs。 Kenton's eye； when she
turned it upon him from Trannel's discomfited back； lessening in the
perspective； and he answered vaguely to her overture about his night's
rest。 Lottie never made any conversation with Breckon； and she now left
him to himself； with some remnants of the disapproval which she found on
her hands after crushing Trannel。 It could not be said that Breckon was
aware of her disapproval； and the judge had no apparent consciousness of
it。 He and Breckon tried to make something of each other； but failed；
and it all seemed a very defeating sequel to Mrs。 Kenton after the
triumphal glow of the evening before。 When Lottie rose； she went with
her； alleging her wish to see if Boyne had eaten his breakfast。 She
confessed； to Breckon's kind inquiry； that Boyne did not seem very well；
and that she had made him take his breakfast in his room； and she did not
think it necessary to own； even to so friendly a witness as Mr。 Breckon；
that Boyne was ashamed to come down； and dreaded meeting Trannel so much
that she was giving him time to recover his self…respect and courage。
As soon as she and Lottie were gone Breckon began； rather more formidably
than he liked； but helplessly so： 〃Judge Kenton； I should be glad of a
few moments with you onon an importanton a matter that is important
to me。〃
〃Well；〃 said the judge； cautiously。 Whatever was coming； he wished to
guard himself from the mistake that he had once so nearly fallen into；
and that still made him catch his breath to think of。 〃How can I be of
use to you？〃
〃I don't know that you can be of any useI don't know that I ought to
speak to you。 But I thought you might perhaps save me fromsave my
taking a false step。〃
He looked at Kenton as if he would understand； and Kenton supposed that
he did。 He said； 〃My daughter once mentioned your wish to talk with me。〃
〃Your daughter？〃 Breckon stared at him in stupefaction。
〃Yes； Ellen。 She said you wished to consult me about going back to your
charge in New York； when we were on the ship together。 But I don't know
that I'm very competent to give advice in such〃
〃Oh！〃 Breckon exclaimed； in a tone of immense relief； which did not
continue itself in what he went on to say。 〃That！ I've quite made up my
mind to go back。〃 He stopped； and then be burst out； 〃I want to speak
with you about her。〃 The judge sat steady； still resolute not to give
himself away； and the young man scarcely recovered from what had been a
desperate plunge in adding： 〃I know that it's usual to speak with her
with the lady herself first； butI don't know！ The circumstances are
peculiar。 You only know about me what you've seen of me； and I would
rather make my mistakes in the order that seems right to me； although it
isn't just the American way。〃
He smiled rather piteously； and the judge said； rather encouragingly；
〃I don't quite know whether I follow you。〃
Breckon blushed； and sought help in what remained of his coffee。 〃The
way isn't easy for me。 But it's this： I ask your leave to ask Miss Ellen
to marry me。〃 The worst was over now； and looked as if it were a relief。
〃She is the most beautiful person in the world to me； and the best；
but as you know so little of me； I thought it right to get your leaveto
tell youtoto That is all。〃 He fell back in his chair and looked a
at Kenton。
〃It is unusual；〃 the judge began。
〃Yes； Yes； I know that。 And for that reason I speak first to you。 I'll
be ruled by you implicitly。〃
〃I don't mean that；〃Kenton said。 〃I would have expected that you would
speak to her first。 But I get your point of view； and I must say I think
you're right。 I think you are behavinghonorably。 I wish that every
one was like you。 But I can't say anything now。 I must talk with her
mother。 My daughter's life has not been happy。 I can't tell you。 But
as far as I am concerned； and I think Mrs。 Kenton； too； I would be glad
We like you Mr。 Breckon。 We think you are a good man。
〃Oh； thank you。 I'm not so sure〃
〃We'd risk it。 But that isn't all。 Will you excuse me if I don't say
anything more just yetand if I leave you？〃
〃Why； certainly。〃 The judge had risen and pushed back his chair； and
Breckon did the same。 〃And I shallhear from you？〃
〃Why； certainly；〃 said the judge in his turn。
〃It isn't possible that you put him off！〃 his wife reproached him； when
he told what had passed between him and Breckon。 〃Oh； you couldn't have
let him think that we didn't want him for her！ Surely you didn't！〃
〃Will you get it into your head；〃 he flamed back； 〃that he hasn't spoken
to Ellen yet； and I couldn't accept him till she had？〃
〃Oh yes。 I forgot that。〃 Mrs。 Kenton struggled with the fact； in the
difficulty of realizing so strange an order of procedure。 〃I suppose
it's his being educated abroad that way。 But； do go back to him； Rufus；
and tell him that of course〃
〃I will do nothing of the kind； Sarah！ What are you thinking of？〃
〃Oh； I don't know what I'm thinking of！ I must see Ellen； I suppose。
I'll go to her now。 Oh； dear； if she doesn'tif she lets such a chance
slip through her fingers But she's quite likely to； she's so obstinate！
I wonder what she'll want us to do。〃
She fled to her daughter's room and found Boyne there； sitting beside his
sister's bed； giving her a detailed account of his adventure of the day
before； up to the moment Mr。 Breckon met him； in charge of the
detectives。 Up to that moment； it appeared to Boyne； as nearly as he
could recollect； that he had not broken down； but had behaved himself
with a dignity which was now beginning to clothe his whole experience。
In the retrospect； a quiet heroism characterized his conduct； and at the
moment his mother entered the room he was questioning Ellen as to her
impressions of his bearing when she first saw him in the grasp of the
detectives。
His mother took him by the arm； and said； 〃I want to speak with Ellen；
Boyne；〃 and put him out of the door。
Then she came back and sat down in his chair。 〃Ellen。 Mr。 Breckon has
been speaking to your father。 Do you know what about？〃
〃About his going back to New York？〃 the girl suggested。
Her mother kept her patience with difficulty。 〃No； not about that。
About you！ He's asked your fatherI can't understand yet why he did it；
only he's so delicate and honorable； and goodness known we appreciate it…
…whether he can tell you thatthat〃 It was not possible for such a
mother as Mrs。 Kenton to say 〃He loves you〃； it would have sounded as she
would have said； too sickish； and she compromised on： 〃He likes you； and
wants to ask you whether you will marry him。 And； Ellen；〃 she continued；
in the ample silence which followed； 〃if you don't say you will； I will
have nothing more to do With such a simpleton。 I have always felt that
you behaved very foolishly about Mr。 Bittridge； but I hoped that when you
grew older you would see it as we did； andand behave differently。 And
now； if； after all we've been throug