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〃Well； I'm glad you didn't say so；〃 the judge answered。
XX。
From the easy conquest of the men who looked at her Lottie proceeded to
the subjection of the women。 It would have been more difficult to put
these down； if the process had not been so largely； so almost entirely
subjective。 As it was； Lottie exchanged snubs with many ladies of the
continental nationalities who were never aware of having offered or
received offence。 In some cases； when they fearlessly ventured to speak
with her； they behaved very amiable； and seemed to find her conduct
sufficiently gracious in return。 In fact； she was approachable enough；
and had no shame； before Boyne； in dismounting from the high horse which
she rode when alone with him； and meeting these ladies on foot； at least
half…way。 She made several of them acquainted with her mother； who；
after a timorous reticence； found them very conversable； with a range of
topics； however； that shocked her American sense of decorum。 One Dutch
lady talked with such manly freedom； and with such untrammelled intimacy；
that she was obliged to send Boyne and Lottie about their business； upon
an excuse that was not apparent to the Dutch lady。 She only complimented
Mrs。 Kenton upon her children and their devotion to each other； and when
she learned that Ellen was also her daughter； ventured the surmise she
was not long married。
〃It isn't her husband；〃 Mrs。 Kenton explained； with inward trouble。
〃It's just a gentleman that came over with us；〃 and she went with her
trouble to her own husband as soon as she could。
〃I'm afraid it isn't the custom to go around alone with young men as much
as Ellen thinks；〃 she suggested。
〃He ought to know；〃 said the judge。 〃I don't suppose he would if it
wasn't。〃
〃That is true；〃 Mrs。 Kenton owned； and for the time she put her
misgivings away。
〃So long as we do nothing wrong；〃 the judge decided； 〃I don't see why we
should not keep to our own customs。〃
〃Lottie says they're not ours； in New York。〃
〃Well； we are not in New York now。〃
They had neither of them the heart to interfere with Ellen's happiness；
for； after all； Breckon was careful enough of the appearances； and it was
only his being constantly with Ellen that suggested the Dutch lady's
surmise。 In fact； the range of their wanderings was not beyond the
dunes； though once they went a little way on one of the neatly bricked
country roads that led towards The Hague。 As yet there had been no
movement in any of the party to see the places that lie within such easy
tram…reach of The Hague； and the hoarded interest of the past in their
keeping。 Ellen chose to dwell in the actualities which were an
enlargement of her own present； and Lottie's active spirit found
employment enough in the amusements at the Kurhaus。 She shopped in the
little bazars which make a Saratoga under the colonnades fronting two
sides of the great space before the hotel； and she formed a critical and
exacting taste in music from a constant attendance at the afternoon
concerts； it is true that during the winter in New York she had cast
forever behind her the unsophisticated ideals of Tuskingum in the art； so
that from the first she was able to hold the famous orchestra that played
in the Kurhaus concert…room up to the highest standard。 She had no use
for anybody who had any use for rag…time； and she was terribly severe
with a young American； primarily of Boyne's acquaintance； who tried to
make favor with her by asking about the latest coon…songs。 She took the
highest ethical ground with him about tickets in a charitable lottery
which he had bought from the portier； but could not move him on the lower
level which he occupied。 He offered to give her the picture which was
the chief prize； in case he won it； and she assured him beforehand that
she should not take it。 She warned Boyne against hin：； under threats of
exposure to their mother； as not a good influence； but one afternoon；
when the young Queen of Holland came to the concert with the queen…
mother； Lottie cast her prejudices to the winds in accepting the places
which the wicked fellow…countryman offered Boyne and herself； when they
had failed to get any where they could see the queens； as the Dutch
called them。
The hotel was draped with flags； and banked with flowers about the main
entrance where the queens were to arrive； and the guests massed
themselves in a dense lane for them to pass through。 Lottie could not
fail to be one of the foremost in this array； and she was able to decide；
when the queens had passed； that the younger would not be considered a
more than average pretty girl in America； and that she was not very well
dressed。 They had all stood within five feet of her； and Boyne had
appropriated one of the prettiest of the pretty bends which the gracious
young creature made to right and left； and had responded to it with an
'empressement' which he hoped had not been a sacrifice of his republican
principles。
During the concert he sat with his eyes fixed upon the Queen where she
sat in the royal box； with her mother and her ladies behind her； and
wondered and blushed to wonder if she had noticed him when be bowed； or
if his chivalric devotion in applauding her when the audience rose to
receive her had been more apparent than that of others； whether it had
seemed the heroic act of setting forth at the head of her armies； to beat
back a German invasion； which it had essentially been； with his
instantaneous return as victor； and the Queen's abdication and adoption
of republican principles under conviction of his reasoning； and her
idolized consecration as the first chief of the Dutch republic。 His
cheeks glowed； and he quaked at heart lest Lottie should surprise his
thoughts and expose them to that sarcastic acquaintance； who proved to be
a medical student resting at Scheveningen from the winter's courses and
clinics in； Vienna。 He had already got on to many of Boyne s curves； and
had sacrilegiously suggested the Queen of Holland when he found him
feeding his fancy on the modern heroical romances； he advised him as an
American adventurer to compete with the European princes paying court to
her。 So thin a barrier divided that malign intelligence from Boyne's
most secret dreams that he could never feel quite safe from him； and yet
he was always finding himself with him； now that he was separated from
Miss Rasmith； and Mr。 Breckon was taken up so much with Ellen。 On the
ship he could put many things before Mr。 Breckon which must here perish
in his breast； or suffer the blight of this Mr。 Trannel's raillery。 The
student sat near the Kentons at table； and he was no more reverent of the
judge's modest convictions than of Boyne's fantastic preoccupations。 The
worst of him was that you could not help liking him： he had a fascination
which the boy felt while he dreaded him； and now and then he did
something so pleasant that when he said something unpleasant you could
hardly believe it。
At the end of the concert； when he rose and stood with all the rest；
while the royal party left their box； and the orchestra played the Dutch
national hymn； he said； in a lou