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faltering； 〃What are you going to do； Ellen？〃
〃I am going to do right。〃
〃Don't…catch cold！〃 her mother called after her figure vanishing down
the corridor； but the warning couched in these terms had really no
reference to the weather。
The girl's impulse was one of those effects of the weak will in her which
were apt to leave her short of the fulfilment of a purpose。 It carried
her as her as the promenade； which she found empty； and she went and
leaned upon the rail； and looked out over the sorrowful North Sea； which
was washing darkly away towards where the gloomy sunset had been。
Steps from the other side of the ship approached； hesitated towards her；
and then arrested themselves。 She looked round。
〃Why； Miss Kenton！〃 said Breckon； stupidly。
〃The sunset is over； isn't it？〃 she answered。
〃The twilight isn't。〃 Breckon stopped； then he asked； 〃Wouldn't you like
to take a little walk？〃
〃Yes；〃 she answered； and smiled fully upon him。 He had never known
before how radiant a smile she lead。
〃Better have my arm。 It's getting rather dark。〃
〃Well。〃 She put her hand on his arm and he felt it tremble there； while
she palpitated； 〃We are all so glad you could go on to Rotterdam。 My
mother wanted me to tell you。〃
〃Oh； don't speak of that；〃 said Breckon； not very appositely。 Presently
he forced a laugh； in order to add； with lightness； 〃I was afraid perhaps
I had given you all some reason to regret it！〃
She said； 〃I was afraid you would think thator momma wasand I
couldn't bear to have you。〃
〃Well； then； I won't。〃
XIX。
Breckon had answered with gayety； but his happiness was something beyond
gayety。 He had really felt the exclusion from the Kentons in which he
had passed the day； and he had felt it the more painfully because he
liked them all。 It may be owned that he liked Ellen best from the
beginning； and now he liked her better than ever； but even in the day's
exile he had not ceased to like each of them。 They were； in their family
affection； as lovable as that sort of selfishness can make people。 They
were very united and good to one another。 Lottie herself； except in her
most lurid moments； was good to her brother and sister； and almost
invariably kind to her parents。 She would not； Breckon saw； have brooked
much meddling with her flirtations from them； but as they did not offer
to meddle； she had no occasion to grumble on that score。 She grumbled
when they asked her to do things for Ellen； but she did them； and though
she never did them without grumbling； she sometimes did them without
being asked。 She was really very watchful of Ellen when it would least
have been expected； and sometimes she was sweet。 She never was sweet
with Boyne； but she was often his friend； though this did not keep her
from turning upon him at the first chance to give him a little dig； or a
large one； for that matter。 As for Boyne； he was a mass of helpless
sweetness； though he did not know it； and sometimes took himself for an
iceberg when he was merely an ice…cream of heroic mould。 He was as
helplessly sweet with Lottie as with any one； and if he suffered keenly
from her treacheries； and seized every occasion to repay them in kind；
it was clearly a matter of conscience with him； and always for the good。
Their father and mother treated their squabbles very wisely； Breckon
thought。 They ignored them as much as possible； and they recognized them
without attempting to do that justice between them which would have
rankled in both their breasts。
To a spectator who had been critical at first； Mr。 and Mrs。 Kenton seemed
an exemplary father and mother with Ellen as well as with their other
children。 It is easy to be exemplary with a sick girl； but they
increasingly affected Breckon as exemplary with Ellen。 He fancied that
they acted upon each other beneficially towards her。 At first he had
foreboded some tiresome boasting from the father's tenderness； and some
weak indulgence of the daughter's whims from her mother； but there was
either never any ground for this； or else Mrs。 Kenton； in keeping her
husband from boasting； had been obliged in mere consistency to set a
guard upon her own fondness。
It was not that。 Ellen； he was more and more decided； would have abused
the weakness of either； if there was anything more angelic than her
patience； it was her wish to be a comfort to them； and； between the
caprices of her invalidism； to be a service。 It was pathetic to see her
remembering to do things for them which Boyne and Lottie had forgotten；
or plainly shirked doing； and to keep the fact out of sight。 She really
kept it out of sight with them； and if she did not hide it from so close
an observer as Breckon； that was more his fault than hers。 When her
father first launched out in her praise； or the praise of her reading；
the young man had dreaded a rustic prig； yet she had never been a prig；
but simply glad of what book she had known； and meekly submissive to his
knowledge if not his taste。 He owned that she had a right to her taste；
which he found almost always good； and accounted for as instinctive in
the absence of an imaginable culture in her imaginable ambient。 So far
as he had glimpses of this； he found it so different from anything he had
known that the modest adequacy of Mrs。 Kenton in the political
experiences of modern Europe； as well as the clear judgments of Kenton
himself in matters sometimes beyond Breekon himself； mystified him no
less than Ellen's taste。
Even with the growth of his respect for their intelligence and his love
of their kindliness； he had not been able to keep a certain patronage
from mingling； and it was not till they evinced not only entire ability；
but an apparent wish to get on without his approval； without his
acquaintance even； that he had conceived a just sense of them。 The like
is apt to happen with the best of us； when we are also the finest； and
Breckon was not singular in coming to a due consciousness of something
valuable only in the hour of its loss。 He did not know that the loss was
only apparent。 He knew that he had made a distinct sacrifice for these
people； and that； when he had prepared himself to befriend them little
short of self…devotion； they showed themselves indifferent； and almost
repellent。 In the revulsion of feeling； when Ellen gave him her mother's
message； and frankly offered him reparation on behalf of her whole
family； he may have overdone his gratitude； but he did not overdo it to
her perception。 They walked up and down the promenade of the Amstel； in
the watery North Sea moon； while bells after bells noted the hour
unheeded； and when they parted for the night it was with an involuntary
pressure of hands； from which she suddenly pulled hers； and ran down the
corridor of her state…room and Lottie's。
He stood watching the narrow space in which she had vanished； and
thinking how gentle she was； and how she had contrived somehow to make
him feel that now it was she who had been consoling him； and trying to
interest him and amuse him。 He had not realized that before； he had been
used to interesting and amusing her； but he could n