The Kentons

d softly, and turned from one cheek to the other. Every half-hour or so he let his window-curtain fly up, and lay watching the landscape fleeting past; and then he pulled the curtain dow

old face that showed itself in the glass, with the frost of a two days' beard on it,

would not have happened, of course, if he had not gone to Tuskingum, and she could say that to him; now it seemed to him that his going, which had be

who went before him to pull out the judge's chair, with commanding frowns to his underlings to do the like for the rest of the family; and as his own clumsy Irish waiter stood behind his chair, breathing heavily upon the judge's head, he gave his order for breakfast, with a curious sense of having got home again from some strange place. He satisfied Boyne that his pigeons and poultry had been well cared for through the winter, and he told Lottie that he had not met much of anybody except Dick's family, before he recollected seeing half a dozen

had not gone, but she made him say it for her; and she would not let him take comfort in the notion of keeping the fact of his interview with

or not having thought of that. "An

tell her," sa

" the girl perversely demanded, a

e a word more to say to you. Your father hasn't been in the hou

elf. I know there is something you are

elting into pity against all sense of d

ted from Bittridge. "I don't say he isn't ashamed of himself," she commented at the end. "He ought to be, and, of course, he would be glad to be in with us again when we go back; but th

that now," said the g

tely till she could say, "Or you

herself up out of her chair, and trailed slowly

hey observed forms with regard to talking about Ellen which, after all, were rather for themselv

as well as

she goi

t I don't believe s

ur tickets for next S

his wife. "If he doesn't write

answered that

n't believe s

of her writing to Bittridge. "He hasn't changed, if he was wrong,

r, but the girl left her without letting her satisfy the longing in the mother's hea

he days gone, and the day of their sailing come, but she kept her impatience from her husband and children, and especially from Ellen. The girl was passive enough; she was almost willing, and in the preparation for their voyage she did her share of the shopping, and discussed the difficult points of this business

o her about it? Don't you see that she is making the best fight she can? You will weaken he

're right, Sarah. But I don't like t

e to that fellow, and ask

the other guests of the hotel. He was always so early that sometimes the dining-room was not open; when this happened, he used to go and buy a newspaper at the clerk's desk, for it was too early then for the news-sta

ch Kenton took with trembling reluctance and a d

t Saturday,"

a little outing. She'll be the most surprised woman in New York when I tell her you're here yet. We came to this hotel because we knew you had been here, but we didn't suppose you were here

out, his eyes fixed on Bittridg

ton as soon after breakfast as you'll let me. She just idolizes Mrs. Kenton, from what I've told her about her. Our rooms ready?" He turned to the clerk, and the clerk called "Front!" to a bellboy, who

or and finding himself in his wife's presence did not present themselves consecutively, though they must all have successively occ

l Ellen, and, if she wishes, we mu

dge mechanica

what a strife of hope and shame and pride there was in Ellen's heart. At first she said that she did not wish to see him, and

hink you had been unkind; and he might be hurt on his mo

girl, gratefully. "But I think we had better se

Ellen. If you prefe

ant poppa to be there, an

e excused himself if the invitation had been of the form that one might decline. "What do I want to s

, my son," said his mo

to him. I have some little self-respect, if the rest of you haven't. Am I going to shake

ll if she had not chosen to do so, and Mrs. Bittridge was already seated beside Ellen on the sofa, holding her hand, and trying to keep her mobile, inattentive eyes upon Ellen's face. She was a little woman, youthfully dressed, but not dressed youthfully enough for the dry, yellow hair which curled tightly in small rings on her skull, like the wig of a rag-doll. Her restless eyes were round and deep-

e, who, whenever she caught Mrs. Kenton's glance, said something to her about her Clarence, and how he used to write home to her at Ballardsville about the Kentons, so that she felt acquainted with all of them. Her reminiscences were perfunctory; Mrs. Bittridge had voluntarily but one topic, and that was herself, either as she was included in the interest her son must inspire, or as she

a kitten. What was respectable and what was pathetic in her was her wish to promote her son's fortunes with the Kentons, but she tried to do this from not a very clear understanding of her part, apparently, and little sense of the means. For Ellen's sake, rather than hers, the father and mother received her overtures to their liking kindly; they answered her patiently, and Mrs.

that there had been no overt love-making between them and Bittridge had never offered himself. What was he doing there, then? The judge asked himself that, without being able to answer himself. So far as he could make out, his wife and he were letting him see Ellen, and show her off to his mother, mainly to disgust her with them both, and because they were afraid that if they denied her to him, it would be the worse f

and she saw it with a sinking of the heart, was that Ellen looked more at peace than she had been since Bittridge was last in their house at Tuskingum. Her eyes covertly followed him as he sat talking, or went about the room, making himself at home among them, as if he were welcome with every one. He joked her more than the rest, and accused her of having become a

said that now the Kentons must come and return her call, and be real neighborly, just the same as if they were all at home together. When her son shook hands wit

EATHE, poppa," and paced out of the room in stately scorn, followed by Boyne, who had apparently no words at the command of his dumb rage. Kenton wish

th knob of his stick, while he sat waiting for the fellow to take himself away. But Bittridge had apparently no thought of going. He was looking at the amusements for the evening in a paper he had bought, and he wished to consult the judge as to which was the best theatre to go to that night; he said he wanted to take his mother. Kenton professed not to know much about the New York th

in New York. I've been offered a show in the advertising department of one of the big dailies-I'm not at liberty to say which-and it's a toss-up whether I stay here or go to Washington; I've got a chance there, too, but it's on the staff of a new enterprise, and I'm not sure about it. I've brought my mother along to let her have a look at both places, though she doesn't know it, and I'd rather you wouldn't speak of it before her; I'm going to take her on to Washington b

beyond a few inarticulate grumblings of assent. These sufficed for Bittridge, apparently, for he went on contentedly: "Whenever I've been tempted to go a little wild, the thoug

idge said, "All right; I'll see you later, judge," and swung