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Kenton was unable to make any formal response； and； in fact； he was so
preoccupied with the question whether the fellow was more a fool or a
fraud that he made no answer at all； 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 thought
of how mother would feel has kept me on the track like nothing else
would。 No； judge； there isn't anything in this world like a good mother；
except the right kind of a wife。〃
Kenton rose； and said he believed he must go upstairs。 Bittridge said；
〃All right； I'll see you later； judge；〃 and swung easily off to advise
with the clerk as to the best theatre。
VI。
Kenton was so unhappy that he could not wait for his wife to come to him
in their own room； he broke in upon her and Ellen in the parlor； and at
his coming the girl flitted out； in the noiseless fashion which of late
had made her father feel something ghostlike in her。 He was afraid she
was growing to dislike him； and trying to avoid him； and now he presented
himself quite humbly before his wife； as if he had done wrong in coming。
He began with a sort of apology for interrupting； but his wife said it
was all right； and she added； 〃We were not talking about anything in
particular。〃 She was silent； and then she added again： 〃Sometimes I
think Ellen hasn't very fine perceptions； after all。 She doesn't seem to
feel about people as I supposed she would。〃
〃You mean that she doesn't feel as you would suppose about those people？〃
Mrs。 Kenton answered； obliquely。 〃She thinks it's a beautiful thing in
him to be so devoted to his mother。〃
〃Humph！ And what does she think of his mother？〃
〃She thinks she has very pretty hair。〃
Mrs。 Kenton looked gravely down at the work she had in her hands； and
Kenton did not know what to make of it all。 He decided that his wife
must feel； as he did； a doubt of the child's sincerity； with sense of her
evasiveness more tolerant than his own。 Yet he knew that if it came to a
question of forcing Ellen to do what was best for her； or forbidding her
to do what was worst； his wife would have all the strength for the work；
and he none。 He asked her； hopelessly enough； 〃Do you think she still
cares for him？〃
〃I think she wishes to give him another trial； I hope she will。〃 Kenton
was daunted； and he showed it。 〃She has got to convince herself； and we
have got to let her。 She believes； of course； that he's here on her
account； and that flatters her。 Why should she be so different from
other girls？〃 Mrs。 Kenton demanded of the angry protest in her husband's
eye。
His spirit fell； and he said； 〃I only wish she were more like them。〃
〃Well； then； she is just as headstrong and as silly； when it comes to a
thing like this。 Our only hope is to let her have her own way。〃
〃Do you suppose he cares for her； after all？〃
Mrs。 Kenton was silent； as if in exhaustive self…question。 Then she
answered： 〃No； I don't in that way。 But he believes he can get her。〃
〃Then； Sarah； I think we have a duty to the poor child。 You must tell
her what you have told me。〃
Mrs。 Kenton smiled rather bitterly； in recognition of the fact that the
performance of their common duty must fall wholly to her。 But she merely
said： 〃There is no need of my telling her。 She knows it already。〃
〃And she would take him in spite of knowing that he didn't really care
for her？〃
〃I don't say that。 She wouldn't own it to herself。〃
〃And what are you going to do？〃
〃Nothing。 We must let things take their course。〃
They had a great deal more talk that came to the same end。 They played
their sad comedy； he in the part of a father determined to save his child
from herself； and she in hers of resisting and withholding him。 It ended
as it had so often ended beforehe yielded； with more faith in her
wisdom than she had herself。
At luncheon the Bittridges could not join the Kentons； or be asked to do
so； because the table held only four； but they stopped on their way to
their own table； the mother to bridle and toss in affected reluctance；
while the son bragged how he had got the last two tickets to be had that
night for the theatre where he was going to take his mother。 He seemed
to think that the fact had a special claim on the judge's interest； and
she to wish to find out whether Mrs。 Kenton approved of theatre…going。
She said she would not think of going in Ballardsville； but she supposed
it was more rulable in New York。
During the afternoon she called at the Kenton apartment to consult the
ladies about what she ought to wear。 She said she had nothing but a
black 'barege' along； and would that do with the hat she had on？ She had
worn it to let them see； and now she turned her face from aide to side to
give them the effect of the plumes； that fell like a dishevelled feather…
duster round and over the crown。 Mrs。 Kenton could only say that it
would do； but she believed that it was the custom now for ladies to take
their hats off in the theatre。
Mrs。 Bittridge gave a hoarse laugh。 〃Oh； dear！ Then I'll have to fix my
hair two ways？ I don't know what Clarence WILL say。〃
The mention of her son's name opened the way for her to talk of him in
relation to herself； and the rest of her stay passed in the celebration
of his filial virtues； which had been manifest from the earliest period。
She could not remember that she ever had to hit the child a lick； she
said； or that he had ever made her shed a tear。
When she went； Boyne gloomily inquired； 〃What makes her hair so much
darker at the roots than it is at the points？〃 and his mother snubbed him
promptly。
〃You had no business to be here； Boyne。 I don't like boys hanging about
where ladies are talking together； and listening。〃
This did not prevent Lottie from answering； directly for Boyne； and
indirectly for Ellen； 〃It's because it's begun to grow since the last
bleach。〃
It was easier to grapple with Boyne than with Lottie； ；and Mrs。 Kenton
was willing to allow her to leave the room with her brother unrebuked。
She was even willing to have had the veil lifted from Mrs。 Bittridge's
hair with a rude hand； if it world help Ellen。
〃I don't want you to think； momma；〃 said the girl； 〃that I didn't know
about her hair； or that I don't see how silly she is。 But it's all the
more to his credit if he can be so good to her； and admire her。 Would
yon like him better if he despised her？〃
Mrs。 Kenton felt both the defiance and the secret shame from which it
sprang in her daughter's words； and she waited for a moment before she
answered； 〃I would like to be sure he didn't！〃
〃If he does； and if he hides it from her； it's the same as if he didn't；
it's better。 But you all wish to dislike him。〃
〃We don't wish to dislike him； Ellen； goodness knows。 But I don't think
he would care much whether we disliked him or not。 I am sure your poor
father and I would be only too glad to like him。〃
〃Lottie wouldn't；〃 said Ellen； with a resentment her mother found
pathetic； it was so feeble and aimless。
〃Lottie doesn't matter；〃 she said。