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can't bear them。 They simply know it。 I wonder what has happened to
her？〃
〃Why do you think anything has happened to her？〃
〃Why？ Well； girls don't have that air of melanholy absence for nothing。
She is brooding upon something； you may be sure。 But you have had so
many more opportunities than I！ Do you mean that you haven't suspected a
tragical past far her？〃
〃I don't know；〃 said Breckon； a little restively； 〃that I have allowed
myself to speculate about her past。〃
〃That is； you oughtn't to have allowed yourself to do so。 Well； there I
agree with you。 But a woman may do so without impertinence； and I am
sure that Miss Kenton has a story。 I have watched her； and her face has
told me everything but the story。〃
Breckon would not say that some such revelation had been made to him； and
in the absence of an answer from him Miss Rasmith asked； 〃Is she
cultivated； too？〃
〃Too？〃
〃Like her mother。〃
〃Oh！ I should say she had read a good dial。 And she's bookish； yes； in
a simple…hearted kind of way。〃
〃She asks you if you have read 'the book of the year；' and whether you
don't think the heroine is a beautiful character？〃
〃Not quite so bad as that。 But if you care to be serious about her！〃
〃Oh； I do！〃
〃I doubt it。 Then； I should say that she seems to have grown up in a
place where the interests are so material that a girl who was disposed to
be thoughtful would be thrown back upon reading for her society more than
in more intellectual centresif there are such things。 She has been so
much with books that she does not feel odd in speaking of them as if they
were the usual topics of conversation。 It gives her a certain
quaintness。〃
〃And that is what constitutes her charm？〃
〃I didn't know that we were speaking of her charm。〃
〃No； that is true。 But I was thinking of it。 She fascinates me。 Are
they going to get off at Boulogne？〃
〃No； they are going on to Rotterdam。〃
〃To be sure！ Boyne told me。 And are you going on with them？〃
〃I thought we talked of my going to Paris。〃 Breckon looked round at her；
and she made a gesture of deprecation。
〃Why； of course！ How could I forget？ But I'm so much interested in Miss
Kenton that I can't think of anything else。〃
〃Not even of Miss Rasmith？〃
〃Not even of Miss Rasmith。 I know that she has a history； and that it's
a sad one。〃 She paused in ironical hesitation。 〃You've been so good as
to caution me about her brotherand I never can be grateful enoughand
that makes me almost free to suggest〃
She stopped again； and he asked； hardily； 〃What？〃
〃Oh； nothing。 It isn't for me to remind my pastor； my ghostly adviser〃
she pulled down her mouth and glanced at him demurely〃 and I will only
offer the generalization that a girl is never so much in danger of having
her heart broken as when she's had it brokenOh； are you leaving me？〃
she cried； as Breckon rose from his chair。
〃Well； then； send Boyne to me。〃 She broke into a laugh as he faltered。
〃Are you going to sit down again？ That is right。 And I won't talk any
more about Miss Kenton。〃
〃I don't mind talking of her；〃 said Breckon。 〃Perhaps it will even be
well to do so if you are in earnest。 Though it strikes me that you have
rather renounced the right to criticise me。〃
〃Now； is that logical？ It seems to me that in putting myself in the
attitude of a final friend at the start； and refusing to be anything
more； I leave established my right to criticise you on the firmest basis。
I can't possibly be suspected of interested motives。 Besides； you've
just been criticizing me； if you want a woman's reason！〃
〃Well； go on。〃
〃Why； I had finished。 That's the amusing part。 I should have supposed
that I could go on forever about Miss Kenton； but I have nothing to go
upon。 She has kept her secret very well； and so have the rest of them。
You think I might have got it out of Boyne？ Perhaps I might； but you
know I have my little scruples。 I don't think it would he quite fair； or
quite nice。〃
〃You are scrupulous。 And I give you credit for having been more delicate
than I've been。〃
〃You don't mean you've been trying to find it out！〃
〃Ah； now I'm not sure about the superior delicacy！〃
〃Oh； how good！〃 said Miss Rasmith。 〃 What a pity you should be wasted
in a calling that limits you so much。〃
〃You call it limiting？ I didn't know but I had gone too far。〃
〃Not at all！ You know there's nothing I like so much as those little
digs。〃
〃I had forgotten。 Then you won't mind my saying that this surveillance
seems to me rather more than I have any right to from you。〃
〃How exquisitely you put it！ Who else could have told me to mind my own
business so delightfully？ Well； it isn't my business。 I acknowledge
that； and I spoke only because I knew you would be sorry if you had gone
too far。 I remembered our promise to be friends。〃
She threw a touch of real feeling into her tone； and he responded； 〃Yes；
and I thank you for it； though it isn't easy。〃
She put out her hand to him； and； as he questioningly took it； she
pressed his with animation。 〃 Of course it isn't！ Or it wouldn't be for
any other man。 But don't you suppose I appreciate that supreme courage
of yours？ There is nobody else…nobody！who could stand up to an
impertinence and turn it to praise by such humility。〃
〃Don't go too far； or I shall be turning your praise to impertinence by
my humility。 You're quite right； though； about the main matter。 I
needn't suppose anything so preposterous as you suggest； to feel that
people are best left alone to outlive their troubles； unless they are of
the most obvious kind。〃
〃Now； if I thought I had done anything to stop you from offering that
sort of helpfulness which makes you a blessing to everybody； I should
never forgive myself。〃
〃Nothing so dire as that； I believe。 But if you've made me question the
propriety of applying the blessing in all cases； you have done a very
good thing。〃
Miss Rasmith was silent and apparently serious。 After a moment she said；
〃And I； for my part； promise to let poor little Boyne alone。〃
Breckon laughed。 〃Don't burlesque it！ Besides； I haven't promised
anything。〃
〃That is very true；〃 said Miss Rasmith； and she laughed； too。
XVI。
In one of those dramatic reveries which we all hold with ourselves when
fortune has pressingly placed us； Ellen Kenton had imagined it possible
for her to tell her story to the man who had so gently and truly tried to
be her friend。 It was mostly in the way of explaining to him how she was
unworthy of his friendship that the story was told； and she fancied
telling it without being scandalized at violating the conventions that
should have kept her from even dreaming of such a thing。 It was all
exalted to a plane where there was no question of fit or unfit in doing
it； but only the occasion； and he would never hear of the unworthiness
which she wished to ascribe to herself。 Sometimes he mournfully left her
when she persisted； left her forever； and sometimes he refused； and
retained with her in a sublime kindness； a noble amity； lofty and serene；
which did not seek to become anything else。 In