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Kenton knew with helpless fury that he was enjoying his vantage。 He
could fall upon him and beat him with his stick； leaving the situation
otherwise undefined； but a moment's reflection convinced Kenton that this
would not do。 It made him sick to think of striking the fellow； as if in
that act he should be striking Ellen； too。 It did not occur to him that
he could be physically worsted； or that his vehement age would be no
match for the other's vigorous youth。 All he thought was that it would
not avail； except to make known to every one what none but her dearest
could now conjecture。 Bittridge could then publicly say； and doubtless
would say； that he had never made love to Ellen； that if there had been
any love…making it was all on her side； and that he had only paid her the
attentions which any young man might blamelessly pay a pretty girl。 This
would be true to the facts in the case； though it was true also that he
had used every tacit art to make her believe him in love with her。 But
how could this truth be urged； and to whom？ So far the affair had been
quite in the hands of Ellen's family； and they had all acted for the
best； up to the present time。 They had given Bittridge no grievance in
making him feel that he was unwelcome in their house； and they were quite
within their rights in going away； and making it impossible for him to
see her again anywhere in Tuskingum。 As for his seeing her in New York；
Ellen had but to say that she did not wish it； and that would end it。
Now； however； by treating him rudely； Kenton was aware that he had bound
himself to render Bittridge some account of his behavior throughout； if
the fellow insisted upon it。
〃I want nothing to do with you； sir；〃 he said； less violently； but； as he
felt； not more effectually。 〃You are in my house without my invitation；
and against my wish！〃
〃I didn't expect to find you here。 I came in because I saw the door
open； and I thought I might see Dick or his wife and give them； this
paper for you。 But I'm glad I found you； and if you won't give me any
reason for not wanting me here； I can give it myself； and I think I can
make out a very good case for you。〃 Kenton quivered in anticipation of
some mention of Ellen； and Bittridge smiled as if he understood。 But he
went on to say： 〃I know that there were things happened after you first
gave me the run of your house that might make you want to put up the bars
againif they were true。 But they were not true。 And I can prove that
by the best of all possible witnessesby Uphill himself。 He stands
shoulder to shoulder with me； to make it hot for any one who couples his
wife's name with mine。〃
〃Humph！〃 Kenton could not help making this comment； and Bittridge； being
what he was； could not help laughing。
〃What's the use？〃 he asked； recovering himself。 〃I don't pretend that
I did right； but you know there wasn't any harm in it。 And if there had
been I should have got the worst of it。 Honestly； judge； I couldn't tell
you how much I prized being admitted to your house on the terms I was。
Don't you think I could appreciate the kindness you all showed me？
Before you took me up； I was alone in Tuskingum； but you opened every
door in the place for me。 You made it home to me； and you won't believe
it； of course； because you're prejudiced； but I felt like a son and
brother to you all。 I felt towards Mrs。 Kenton just as I do towards my
own mother。 I lost the best friends I ever had when you turned against
me。 Don't you suppose I've seen the difference here in Tuskingum？ Of
course； the men pass the time of day with me when we meet； but they don't
look me up； and there are more near…sighted girls in this town！〃 Kenton
could not keep the remote dawn of a smile out of his eyes； and Bittridge
caught the far…off gleam。 〃And everybody's been away the whole winter。
Not a soul at home； anywhere； and I had to take my chance of surprising
Mrs。 Dick Kenton when I saw your door open here： He laughed forlornly； as
the gleam faded out of Kenton's eye again。 〃And the worst of it is that
my own mother isn't at home to me； figuratively speaking； when I go over
to see her at Ballardsville。 She got wind of my misfortune； somehow； and
when I made a clean breast of it to her； she said she could never feel
the same to me till I had made it all right with the Kentons。 And when a
man's own mother is down on him； judge！〃
Bittridge left Kenton to imagine the desperate case； and in spite of his
disbelief in the man and all he said； Kenton could not keep his hardness
of heart towards him。 〃I don't know what you're after； young man；〃 he
began。 〃But if you expect me to receive you under my roof again〃
〃Oh； I don't； judge； I don't！〃 Bittridge interposed。 〃All I want is to
be able to tell my motherI don't care for anybody elsethat I saw you；
and you allowed me to say that I was truly sorry for the painif it was
pain； or annoyance； anywaythat I had caused you； and to go back to her
with the hope of atoning for it sometime or somehow。 That's all。〃
〃Look here！〃 cried Renton。 〃What have you written to my daughter for？〃
〃Wasn't that natural？ I prized her esteem more than I do yours even； but
did I ask her anything more than I've asked you？ I didn't expect her to
answer me； all I wanted was to have her believe that I wasn't as black as
I was paintednot inside； anyway。 You know well enoughanybody knows
that I would rather have her think well of me than any one else in this
world； except my mother。 I haven't got the gift of showing out what's
good in me； if there is any good； but I believe Miss Ellen would want to
think well of me if I gave her a chance。 If ever there was an angel on
earth； she's one。 I don't deny that I was hopeful of mercy from her；
because she can't think evil； but I can lay my hand on my heart and say
that I wasn't selfish in my hopes。 It seemed to me that it was her due
to understand that a man whom she had allowed to be her friend wasn't
altogether unworthy。 That's as near as I can come to putting into words
the motive I had in writing to her。 I can't even begin to put into words
the feeling I have towards her。 It's as if she was something sacred。〃
This was the feeling Renton himself had towards his daughter； and for the
first time he found himself on common ground with the scapegrace who
professed it； and whose light； mocking face so little enforced his
profession。 If Bittridge could have spoken in the dark； his words might
have carried a conviction of his sincerity； but there； in plain day；
confronting the father of Ellen； who had every wish to believe him true；
the effect was different。 Deep within his wish to think the man honest；
Kenton recoiled from him。 He vaguely perceived that it was because she
could not think evil that this wretch had power upon her； and he was
sensible； as he had not been before； that she had no safety from him
except in absence。 He did not know what to answer； he could not repel
him in open terms； and still less could he meet him with any words that
would allow him to resume his former relations with his family。 He said；
finally： 〃We will let matters stand。 We are going to Europe in a week；
and I shall not see you again。 I will tell Mrs。 Kenton what you say。〃
〃Thank you； judge。 And tell her that I appreciate your kindness more
than I can say！〃 The judge rose from his chair and went towards the
window； which he had thrown open。 〃Going to shut up？ Let me help you
with that window； it seems to stick。 Everything fast up…stairs？〃
〃II think so；〃 Kenton hesitated。
〃I'll just run up and look；〃 said Bittridge； and he took the stairs two
at a time； before Kenton could protest； when they came out into the hall
together。 〃It's all right；〃 he reported on his quick return。 〃I'll just
look round below here；〃 and he explored the ground…floor rooms in turn。
〃No； you hadn't opened any other window；〃 he said； glancing finally into
the library。 〃Shall I leave this paper on your table？〃
〃Yes； leave it there；〃 said Kenton； helplessly； and he let Bittridge
close the front door after him； and lock it。
〃I hope Miss Lottie is well；〃 he suggested in h