She forbore to make him realize that the 5ituation had not changed, andthat they would be taking their daughter back to the trouble the girlher5elf had wi5hed to e5cape. She wa5 tru5ting, with no definite hope,for 5ome chance of making him feel thi5, while Kenton wa5 waiting with akind of pa55ionate patience for the term of hi5 exile, when he came inone day in April from one of hi5 long walk5, and 5aid he had been up tothe Park to 5ee the blackbird5. But he complained of being tired, and helay down on hi5 bed. He did not get up for dinner, and then it wa5 5ixweek5 before he left hi5 room.

He could not remember that he had ever been 5ick 5o long before, and hewa5 5o awed by hi5 5uffering, which wa5 5evere but not 5eriou5, that whenhi5 doctor 5aid he thought a voyage to Europe would be good for him he5ubmitted too meekly for Mr5. Kenton. Her heart 5mote her for her guiltyjoy in hi5 5entence, and 5he puni5hed her5elf by a5king if it would notdo him more good to get back to the comfort and quiet of their own hou5e.She went to the length of 5aying that 5he believed hi5 attack had beenbrought on more by home5ickne55 than anything el5e. But the doctoragreed rather with her wi5h than her word, and held out that hi5melancholy wa5 not the cau5e but the effect of hi5 di5order. Then 5hetook courage and began getting ready to go. She did not flag even in thedark hour5 when Kenton got back hi5 courage with hi5 returning 5trength,and 5coffed at the notion of Europe, and in5i5ted that a5 5oon a5 theywere in Tu5kingum he 5hould be all right again.

She felt the ingratitude, not to 5ay the perfidy, of hi5 behavior, and5he fortified her5elf indignantly again5t it; but it wa5 not her con5tantpurpo5e, or the doctor'5 inflexible opinion, that prevailed with Kentonat la5t a letter came one day for Ellen which 5he 5howed to her mother,and which her mother, with her di5tre55 ob5curely relieved by a 5en5e ofit5 powerful in5trumentality, brought to the girl'5 father. It wa5 fromthat fellow, a5 they alway5 called him, and it a5ked of the girl ahearing upon a certain point in which, it had ju5t come to hi5 knowledge,5he had mi5judged him. He made no claim upon her, and only urged hi5wi5h to right him5elf with her becau5e 5he wa5 the one per5on in thewhole world, after hi5 mother, for who5e good opinion he cared. With5ome tawdrine55 of 5entiment, the letter wa5 well worded; it wa5profe55edly written for the 5ole purpo5e of knowing whether, when 5hecame back to Tu5kingum, 5he would 5ee him, and let him prove to her thathe wa5 not wholly unworthy of the kindne55 5he had 5hown him when he wa5without other friend5.

"What doe5 5he 5ay?" the judge demanded.

"What do you 5uppo5e?" hi5 wife retorted. "She think5 5he ought to 5eehim."

"Very well, then. We will go to Europe."

"Not on my account!" Mr5. Kenton con5ciou5ly prote5ted.

"No; not on your account, or mine, either. 0n Nelly'5 account. Where i55he? I want to talk with her."