the kentons-第33章

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Breckon　had　an　opportunity　not　fully　offered　him　before　to　note　a
likeness　between　himself　and　a　fellow…man　whom　he　was　aware　of　not
liking；　though　he　tried　to　love　him；　as　he　felt　it　right　to　love　all　men。　
He　thought　he　had　not　been　quite　sympathetic　enough　with　Mrs。　Kenton　in
her　having　to　stay　behind；　and　he　tried　to　make　it　up　to　Mr。　Trannel　in
his　having　to　come。　　He　invented　civilities　to　show　him；　and　ceded　his
place　next　Ellen　as　if　Trannel　had　a　right　to　it。　　Trannel　ignored　him　in
keeping　it；　unless　it　was　recognizing　Breckon　to　say；　〃Oh；　I　hope　I'm　not
in　your　way；　old　fellow？〃　　and　then　making　jokes　to　Ellen。　　Breckon　could
not　say　the　jokes　were　bad；　though　the　taste　of　them　seemed　to　him　so。　
The　man　had　a　fleering　wit；　which　scorched　whatever　he　turned　it　upon；
and　yet　it　was　wit。　　〃Why　don't　you　try　him　in　American？〃　　he　asked　at
the　failure　of　Breckon　and　the　tram　conductor　to　understand　each　other　in
Dutch。　　He　tried　the　conductor　himself　in　American；　and　he　was　so
deplorably　funny　that　it　was　hard　for　Breckon　to　help　being　'particeps
criminus'；　at　least　in　a　laugh。

He　asked　himself　if　that　were　really　the　kind　of　man　he　was；　and　he　grew
silent　and　melancholy　in　the　fear　that　it　was　a　good　deal　the　sort　of
man。　　To　this　morbid　fancy　Trannel　seemed　himself　in　a　sort　of　excess；
or　what　he　would　be　if　he　were　logically　ultimated。　　He　remembered　all
the　triviality　of　his　behavior　with　Ellen　at　first；　and　rather　sickened
at　the　thought　of　some　of　his　early　pleasantries。　　She　was　talking　gayly
now　with　Trannel；　and　Breckon　wondered　whether　she　was　falling　under　the
charm　that　he　felt　in　him；　in　spite　of　himself。

If　she　was；　her　father　was　not。　　The　judge　sat　on　the　other　side　of　the
car；　and　unmistakably　glowered　at　the　fellow's　attempts　to　make　himself
amusing　to　Ellen。　　Trannel　himself　was　not　insensible　to　the　judge's
mood。　　Now　and　then　he　said　something　to　intensify　it。　　He　patronized　the
judge　and　he　made　fun　of　the　tourist　character　in　which　Boyne　had　got
himself　up；　with　a　field…glass　slung　by　a　strap　under　one　arm　and　a　red
Baedeker　in　his　hand。　　He　sputtered　with　malign　laughter　at　a　rather
gorgeous　necktie　which　Boyne　had　put　on　for　the　day；　and　said　it　was　not
a　very　good　match　for　the　Baedeker。

Boyne　retorted　rudely；　and　that　amused　Trannel　still　more。　　He　became
personal　to　Breckon；　and　noted　the　unclerical　cut　of　his　clothes。　　He
said　he　ought　to　have　put　on　his　uniform　for　an　expedition　like　that；　in
case　they　got　into　any　sort　of　trouble。　　To　Ellen　alone　he　was
inoffensive；　unless　he　overdid　his　polite　attentions　to　her　in　carrying
her　parasol　for　her；　and　helping　her　out　of　the　tram；　when　they　arrived；
shouldering　every　one　else　away；　and　making　haste　to　separate　her　from
the　others　and　then　to　walk　on　with　her　a　little　in　advance。

Suddenly　he　dropped　her；　and　fell　back　to　Boyne　and　his　father；　while
Breckon　hastened　forward　to　her　side。　　Trannel　put　his　arm　across　Boyne's
shoulders　and　asked　him　if　he　were　mad；　and　then　laughed　at　him。　　〃You're
all　right；　Boyne；　but　you　oughtn't　to　be　so　approachable。　　You　ought　to
put　on　more　dignity；　and　repel　familiarity！〃

Boyne　could　only　twitch　away　in　silence　that　he　made　as　haughty　as　he
could；　but　not　so　haughty　that　Trannel　did　not　find　it　laughable；　and　he
laughed　in　a　teasing　way　that　made　Breckon　more　and　more　serious。　　He　was
aware　of　becoming　even　solemn　with　the　question　of　his　likeness　to
Trannel。　　He　was　of　Trannel's　quality；　and　their　difference　was　a　matter
of　quantity；　and　there　was　not　enough　difference。　　In　his　sense　of　their
likeness　Breckon　vowed　himself　to　a　gravity　of　behavior　evermore　which　he
should　not　probably　be　able　to　observe；　but　the　sample　he　now　displayed
did　not　escape　the　keen　vigilance　of　Trannel。

〃With　the　exception　of　Miss　Kenton；〃　he　addressed　himself　to　the　party；
〃you're　all　so　easy　and　careless　that　if　you　don't　look　out　you'll　lose
me。　　Miss　Kenton；　I　wish　you　would　keep　an　eye　on　me。　　I　don't　want　to
get　lost。〃

Ellen　laughedshe　could　not　help　itand　her　laughing　made　it　less
possible　than　before　for　Breckon　to　unbend　and　meet　Trannel　on　his　own
ground；　to　give　him　joke　for　joke；　to　exchange　banter　with　him。　　He　might
never　have　been　willing　to　do　that；　but　now　he　shrank　from　it；　in　his
realization　of　their　likeness；　with　an　abhorrence　that　rendered　him
rigid。

The　judge　was　walking　ahead　with　Boyne；　and　his　back　expressed　such
severe　disapproval　that；　between　her　fear　that　Trannel　would　say
something　to　bring　her　father's　condemnation　on　him　and　her　sense　of
their　inhospitable　attitude　towards　one　who　was　their　guest；　in　a　sort；
she　said；　with　her　gentle　gayety；　〃Then　you　must　keep　near　me；　Mr。
Trannel。　　I'll　see　that　nothing　happens。〃

〃That's　very　sweet　of　you；〃　said　Trannel；　soberly。　　Whether　he　had　now
vented　his　malicious　humor　and　was　ready　to　make　himself　agreeable；　or
was　somewhat　quelled　by　the　unfriendly　ambient　he　had　created；　or　was
wrought　upon　by　her　friendliness；　he　became　everything　that　could　be
wished　in　a　companion　for　a　day's　pleasure。　　He　took　the　lead　at　the
station；　and　got　them　a　compartment　in　the　car　to　themselves　for　the
little　run　to　Leyden；　and　on　the　way　he　talked　very　well。　　He　politely
borrowed　Boyne's　Baedeker；　and　decided　for　the　party　what　they　had　best
see；　and　showed　an　acceptable　intelligence；　as　well　as　a　large　experience
in　the　claims　of　Leyden　upon　the　visitor's　interest。　　He　had　been　there
often　before；　it　seemed；　and　in　the　event　it　appeared　that　he　had　chosen
the　days　sightseeing　wisely。

He　no　longer　addressed　himself　respectfully　to　Ellen　alone；　but　he　re…
established　himself　in　Boyne's　confidence　with　especial　pains；　and　he
conciliated　Breckon　by　a　recognition　of　his　priority　with　Ellen　with　a
delicacy　refined　enough　for　even　the　susceptibility　of　a　lover　alarmed
for　his　rights。　　If　he　could　not　overcome　the　reluctance　of　the　judge；
he　brought　him　to　the　civil　response　which　any　one　who　tried　for　Kenton's
liking　achieved；　even　if　he　did　not　merit　it；　and　there　remained　no　more
reserve　in　Kenton's　manner　than　there　had　been　with　the　young　man　from
the　first。　　He　had　never　been　a　persona　grata　to　the　judge；　and　if　he　did
not　become　so　now；　he　at　least　ceased　to　be　actively　displeasing。

That　was　the　year　before　the　young　Queen　came　to　her　own；　and　in　the　last
days　of　her　minority　she　was　visiting　all　the　cities　of　her　future
dominion　with　the　queen…mother。　　When　Kenton's　party　left　the　station
they　found　Leyden　as　gay　for　her　reception　as　flags　and　banners　could
make　the　gray　old　town；　and　Trannel　relapsed　for　a　moment　so　far　as　to
suggest　that　the　decorations　were　in　honor　of　Boyne's　presence；　but　he
did　not　abuse　the　laugh　that　this　made　to　Boyne's　further　shame。

There　was　no　carriage　at　the　station　which　would　hold　the　party　of　five；
and　they　had　to　take　two　vehicles。　　Trannel　said　it　was　lucky　they　wanted
two；　since　there　were　no　more；　and　he　put　himself　in　authority　to　assort
the　party。　　The　judge；　he　decided；　must　go　with　Ellen　and　Breckon；　and　he
hoped　Boyne　would　let　him　go　in　his　carriage；　if　he　would　sit　on　the　box
with　the　driver。　　The　judge　afterwards　owned　that　he　had　weakly　indulged
his　dislike　of　the　fellow；　in　letting　him　take　Boyne；　and　not　insisting
on　going　himself　with　Tramiel；　but　this　was　when　it　was　long　too　late。　
Ellen　had　her　misgivings；　but；　except　for　that　gibe　about　the
decorations；　Trannel　had　been　behaving　so　well　that　she　hoped　she　might
trust　Boyne　with　him。　　She　made　a　kind　of　appeal　for　her　brother；　bidding
him　and　Trannel　take　good　care　of　each　other；　and　Trannel　promised　so
earnestly　to　look　after　Boyne　that　she　ought　to　have　been　alarmed　for
him。　　He　took　the　lead；　rising　at　times　to　wave　a　reassuring　hand　to　her
over　the　back　of　his　carriage；　and；　in　fact；　nothing　evil　could　very　well
happen　from　him；　with　the　others　following　so　close　upon　him。　　They　met
from　time　to　time　in　the　churches　they　visited；　and　when　they　lost　sight
of　one　another；　through　a　difference　of　opinion　in　the　drivers　as　to　the
best　route；　they　came　together　at　the　place　Trannel　had　appointed　for
their　next　reunion。

He　showed　himself　a　guide　so　admirably　qualified　that　he　found　a　way　for
them　to　objects　of　interest　that　had　at　first　denied　themselves　in
anticipation　of　the　visit　from　the　queens；　when　they　all　sat　down　at
lunch　in　the　restaurant　which　he　found　for　them；　he　could　justifiably
boast　that　he　would　get　them　into　the　Town　Hall；　which　they　had　been　told
was　barred　for　the　day　against　anything　but　sovereign　curiosity。　　He　was
now　on　the　best　term　with　Boyne；　who　seemed　to　have　lost　all　diffidence
of　him；　and　treated　him　with　an　easy　familiarity　that　showed　itself　in
his　slapping　him　on　the　shoulder　and　making　dints　in　his　hat。　　Trannel
seemed　to　enjoy　these　caresses；　and；　when　they　parted　again　for　the
afternoon's　sight…seeing；　Ellen　had　no　longer　a　qualm　in　letting　Boyne
drive　off　with　him。

He　had；　in　fact；　known　how　to　make　himself　very　acceptable　to　Boyne。　　He
knew　all　the　originals　of　his　heroical　romances；　and　was　able　to　give　the
real　names　and　the　geographical　position　of　those　princesses　who　had　been
in　love　with　American　adventurers。　　Under　promise　of　secrecy　he　disclosed
the　real　names　of　the　adventurers　themselves；　now　obscured　in　the　titles
given　them　to　render　them　worthy　their　union　with　sovereigns。　　He　resumed
his　fascinating　confidences　when　they　drove　off　after　luncheon；　and　he
resumed　them　after　each　separation　from　the　rest　of　the　party。　　Boyne
listened　with　a　flushed　face　and　starting　eyes；　and　when　at　last　Trannel
offered；　upon　a　pledge　of　the　most　sacred　nature　from　him　never　to　reveal
a　word　of　what　he　said；　he　began　to　relate　an　adventure　of　which　he　was
himself　the　hero。　　It　was　a　bold　travesty　of　one　of　the　latest　romances
that　Boyne　had　read；　involving　the　experience　of　an　American　very　little
older　than　Boyne　himself；　to　whom　a　wilful　young　crown…princess；　in　a
little　state　which　Trannel　would　not　name　even　to　Boyne；　had　made
advances　such　as　he　could　not　refuse　to　meet　without　cruelty。　　He　was
himself　deeply　in　love　with　her；　but　he　felt　bound　in　honor　not　to
encourage　her　infatuation　as　long　as　he　could　help；　for　he　had　been
received　by　her　whole　family　with　such　kindness　and　confidence　that　he
had　to　consider　them。

〃Oh；　pshaw！〃　　Boyne　broke　in　upon　him；　doubting；　and　yet　wishing　not　to
doubt；　〃that's　the　same　as　the　story　of　'Hector　Folleyne'。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Trannel；　quietly。　　〃I　thought　you　would　recognize　it。〃

〃Well；　but；〃　Boyne　went　on；　〃Hector　married　the　princess！〃

〃In　the　book；　yes。　　The　fellow　I　gave　the　story　to　said　it　would　never　do
not　to　have　him　marry　her；　and　it　would　help　to　disguise　the　fact。　
That's　what　he　said；　after　he　had　given　the　whole　thing　away。〃

〃And　do　you　mean　to　say　it　was　you？　　Oh；　you　can't　stuff　me！　　How　did　you
get　out　of　marrying　her；　I　should　like　to　know；　when　the　chancellor　came
to　you　and　said　that　the　whole　family　wanted　you　to；　for　fear　it　would
kill　her　if〃

〃Well；　there　was　a　scene；　I　can't　deny　that。　　We　had　a　regular　family
conclavefather；　mother；　Aunt　Hitty；　and　all　the　folksand　we　kept　it
up　pretty　much　al