Mrs. Kenton did not know what to answer.  She had a strong superficial desire to shake her daughter as a naughty child which has vexed its mother, but under this was a stir stronger pity for her as a woman, which easily, prevailed.  “Why, but, Ellen dear!  We thought from what you said last night—­”

“But couldn’t you see,” the girl reproached her, and she began to cry, and turned her face into the pillow again and lay sobbing.

“Well,” said her mother, after she had given her a little time, “you needn’t be troubled.  Your father can easily get the ticket again; he can telephone down for it.  Nothing has been done yet.  But didn’t you really want to stay, then?”

“It isn’t whether I want to stay or not,” Ellen spoke into her pillow.  “You know that.  You know that I have got to go.  You know that if I saw him—­Oh, why do you make me talk?”

“Yes, I understand, child.”  Then, in the imperious necessity of blaming some one, Mrs. Kenton added:  “You know how it is with your father.  He is always so precipitate; and when he heard what you said, last night, it cut him to the heart.  He felt as if he were dragging you away, and this morning he could hardly wait to get through his breakfast before he rushed down to the steamship office.  But now it’s all right again, and if you want to go, we’ll go, and your father will only be too glad.”

“I don’t want father to go against his will.  You said he never wanted to go to Europe.”  The girl had turned her face upon her mother again; and fixed her with her tearful, accusing eyes.

“The doctors say he ought to go.  He needs the change, and I think we should all be the better far getting away.”

“I shall not,” said Ellen.  “But if I don’t—­”

“Yes,” said her mother, soothingly.

“You know that nothing has changed.  He hasn’t changed and I haven’t.  If he was bad, he’s as bad as ever, and I’m just as silly.  Oh, it’s like a drunkard!  I suppose they know it’s killing them, but they can’t give it up!  Don’t you think it’s very strange, momma?  I don’t see why I should be so.  It seems as if I had no character at all, and I despise myself so!  Do you believe I shall ever get over it?  Sometimes I think the best thing for me would be to go into an asylum.”

“Oh yes, dear; you’ll get over it, and forget it all.  As soon as you see others—­other scenes—­and get interested—­”

“And you don’t you don’t think I’d better let him come, and—­”

“Ellen!”

Ellen began to sob again, and toss her head upon the pillow.  “What shall I do?  What shall I do?” she wailed.  “He hasn’t ever done anything bad to me, and if I can overlook his—­his flirting—­with that horrid thing, I don’t know what the rest of you have got to say.  And he says he can explain everything.  Why shouldn’t I give him the chance, momma?  I do think it is acting very cruel not to let him even say a word.”