按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
If it is a merit to treat a fatuous mother with deference； Bittridge had
that merit。 His deference was of the caressing and laughing sort； which
took the spectator into the joke of her peculiarities as something they
would appreciate and enjoy with him。 She had been a kittenish and petted
person in her youth； perhaps； and now she petted herself； after she had
long ceased to be 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。 Kenton even tried to lead
the way for her to show herself at her best； by talking of her journey on
to New York； and of the city； and what she would see there to interest
her。 Lottie and Boyne； sternly aloof together in one of their momentary
alliances； listened to her replies with a silent contempt that almost
included their mother； Kenton bore with the woman humbly and sadly。
He was； in fact； rather bewildered with the situation； for which he felt
himself remotely if not immediately responsible。 Bittridge was there
among them not only on good terms； but apparently in the character of a
more than tolerated pretendant to Ellen's favor。 There were passages of
time is which the father was not sure that the fellow was not engaged to
his daughter； though when these instants were gone he was aware 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 for them
through her suffering。 The judge was not accustomed to apply the tests
by which people are found vulgar or not； these were not of his simple
world； all that he felt about Mrs。 Bittridge was that she was a very
foolish； false person； who was true in nothing but her admiration of her
rascal of a son； he did not think of Bittridge as a rascal violently； but
helplessly； and with a heart that melted in pity for Ellen。
He longed to have these people gone； not so much because he was so
unhappy in their presence as because he wished to learn Ellen's feeling
about them from his wife。 She would know； whether Allen said anything to
her or not。 But perhaps if Mrs。 Kenton had been asked to deliver her
mind on this point at once she would have been a little puled。 All that
she could see； 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 regular New…Yorker； he said he supposed that when she
came back from Europe she would not know anybody in Tuskingum； and his
mother； playing with Ellen's fingers； as if they had been the fringe of a
tassel； declared that she must not mind him； for he carried on just so
with everybody； at the same time she ordered him to stop； or she would go
right out of the room。
She gave no other sign of going； and it was her son who had to make the
movement for her at last； she apparently did not know that it was her
part to make it。 She 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 with every one she did so too； and
she said to each； 〃Well； I wish you good…morning；〃 and let him push her
before him； in high delight with the joke； out of the room。
When they were gone the Kentons sat silent； Ellen with a rapt smile on
her thin； flushed face； till Lottie said； 〃You forgot to ask him if we
might BREATHE； 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 wished to remain； and he looked at his wife for
instruction。 She frowned； and he took this for a sign that he had better
go； and he went with a light sigh。
He did not know what else to do with himself； and he went down to the
reading…room。 He found Bittridge there； smoking a cigar； and the young
man companionably offered to bestow one upon him； but the judge stiffly
refused； saying he did not wish to smoke just then。 He noted that
Bittridge was still in his character of family favorite； and his hand
trembled as he passed it over the smooth 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
theatres； and then Bittridge guessed he must get the clerk to tell him。
But still he did not part with the judge。 He sat down beside him； and
told him how glad he was to see his family looking so well； especially
Miss Ellen； he could not remember ever seeing her so strong…looking。 He
said that girl had captured his mother； who was in love with pretty much
the whole Kenton family； though。
〃And by…the…way；〃 he added； 〃I want to thank you and Mrs。 Kenton； judge；
for the way you received my mother。 You made her feel that she was among
friends。 She can't talk about anything else； and I guess I sha'n't have
much trouble in making her stay in New York as long as you're here。 She
was inclined to be homesick。 The fact is； though I don't care to have it
talked about yet； and I wish you wouldn't say anything to Dick about it
when you write home； I think of settling in New York。 I've been offered
a show in the advertising department of one of the big dailiesI'm not
at liberty to say whichand 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 before we go back。 I want to have my mother with me； judge。
It's better for a fellow to have that home…feeling in a large place from
the start； it keeps him out of a lot of things； and I don't pretend to be
better than other people； or not more superhuman。 If I've been able to
keep out of scrapes； it's more because I've had my mother near me； and I
don't intend ever to be separated from her； after this； till I have a
home of my own。 She's been the guiding…star of my life。〃
Kenton was unable to make any formal response； and； in fact； he was so