按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
thinking of the Emersons。〃
Miss Lavish gave a Machiavellian smile。
〃I confess that in Italy my sympathies are not with my own
countrymen。 It is the neglected Italians who attract me； and
whose lives I am going to paint so far as I can。 For I repeat and
I insist； and I have always held most strongly； that a tragedy
such as yesterday's is not the less tragic because it happened in
humble life。〃
There was a fitting silence when Miss Lavish had concluded。 Then
the cousins wished success to her labours； and walked slowly away
across the square。
〃She is my idea of a really clever woman；〃 said Miss Bartlett。
〃That last remark struck me as so particularly true。 It should be
a most pathetic novel。〃
Lucy assented。 At present her great aim was not to get put into
it。 Her perceptions this morning were curiously keen； and she
believed that Miss Lavish had her on trial for an ingenue。
〃She is emancipated； but only in the very best sense of the
word；〃 continued Miss Bartlett slowly。 〃None but the superficial
would be shocked at her。 We had a long talk yesterday。 She
believes in justice and truth and human interest。 She told me
also that she has a high opinion of the destiny of womanMr。
Eager！ Why； how nice！ What a pleasant surprise！〃
〃Ah； not for me；〃 said the chaplain blandly； 〃for I have been
watching you and Miss Honeychurch for quite a little time。〃
〃We were chatting to Miss Lavish。〃
His brow contracted。
〃So I saw。 Were you indeed？ Andate via！ sono occupato！〃 The
last remark was made to a vender of panoramic photographs who was
approaching with a courteous smile。 〃I am about to venture a
suggestion。 Would you and Miss Honeychurch be disposed to join me
in a drive some day this weeka drive in the hills？ We might go
up by Fiesole and back by Settignano。 There is a point on
that road where we could get down and have an hour's ramble on
the hillside。 The view thence of Florence is most beautifulfar
better than the hackneyed view of Fiesole。 It is the view that
Alessio Baldovinetti is fond of introducing into his pictures。
That man had a decided feeling for landscape。 Decidedly。 But who
looks at it to…day？ Ah； the world is too much for us。〃
Miss Bartlett had not heard of Alessio Baldovinetti； but she knew
that Mr。 Eager was no commonplace chaplain。 He was a member of
the residential colony who had made Florence their home。 He knew
the people who never walked about with Baedekers； who had learnt
to take a siesta after lunch； who took drives the pension
tourists had never heard of； and saw by private influence
galleries which were closed to them。 Living in delicate
seclusion； some in furnished flats； others in Renaissance villas
on Fiesole's slope； they read； wrote； studied； and exchanged
ideas； thus attaining to that intimate knowledge； or rather
perception； of Florence which is denied to all who carry in their
pockets the coupons of Cook。
Therefore an invitation from the chaplain was something to be
proud of。 Between the two sections of his flock he was often the
only link； and it was his avowed custom to select those of his
migratory sheep who seemed worthy； and give them a few hours in
the pastures of the permanent。 Tea at a Renaissance villa？
Nothing had been said about it yet。 But if it did come to that
how Lucy would enjoy it！
A few days ago and Lucy would have felt the same。 But the joys of
life were grouping themselves anew。 A drive in the hills with Mr。
Eager and Miss Bartletteven if culminating in a residential
tea…partywas no longer the greatest of them。 She echoed the
raptures of Charlotte somewhat faintly。 Only when she heard that
Mr。 Beebe was also coming did her thanks become more sincere。
〃So we shall be a partie carree；〃 said the chaplain。 〃In these
days of toil and tumult one has great needs of the country and
its message of purity。 Andate via！ andate presto； presto！ Ah；
the town！ Beautiful as it is； it is the town。〃
They assented。
〃This very squareso I am toldwitnessed yesterday the most
sordid of tragedies。 To one who loves the Florence of Dante and
Savonarola there is something portentous in such desecration
portentous and humiliating。〃
〃Humiliating indeed；〃 said Miss Bartlett。 〃Miss Honeychurch
happened to be passing through as it happened。 She can hardly
bear to speak of it。〃 She glanced at Lucy proudly。
〃And how came we to have you here？〃 asked the chaplain
paternally。
Miss Bartlett's recent liberalism oozed away at the question。
〃Do not blame her； please； Mr。 Eager。 The fault is mine： I left
her unchaperoned。〃
〃So you were here alone； Miss Honeychurch？〃 His voice suggested
sympathetic reproof but at the same time indicated that a few
harrowing details would not be unacceptable。 His dark； handsome
face drooped mournfully towards her to catch her reply。
〃Practically。〃
〃One of our pension acquaintances kindly brought her home；〃 said
Miss Bartlett； adroitly concealing the sex of the preserver。
〃For her also it must have been a terrible experience。 I trust
that neither of you was at allthat it was not in your immediate
proximity？〃
Of the many things Lucy was noticing to…day； not the least
remarkable was this： the ghoulish fashion in which respectable
people will nibble after blood。 George Emerson had kept the
subject strangely pure。
〃He died by the fountain； I believe；〃 was her reply。
〃And you and your friend〃
〃Were over at the Loggia。〃
〃That must have saved you much。 You have not； of course； seen the
disgraceful illustrations which the gutter Press This man is
a public nuisance； he knows that I am a resident perfectly well；
and yet he goes on worrying me to buy his vulgar views。〃
Surely the vendor of photographs was in league with Lucyin the
eternal league of Italy with youth。 He had suddenly extended his
book before Miss Bartlett and Mr。 Eager； binding their hands
together by a long glossy ribbon of churches； pictures； and
views。
〃This is too much！〃 cried the chaplain； striking petulantly at
one of Fra Angelico's angels。 She tore。 A shrill cry rose from
the vendor。 The book it seemed； was more valuable than one would
have supposed。
〃Willingly would I purchase〃 began Miss Bartlett。
〃Ignore him；〃 said Mr。 Eager sharply； and they all walked rapidly
away from the square。
But an Italian can never be ignored； least of all when he has a
grievance。 His mysterious persecution of Mr。 Eager became
relentless； the air rang with his threats and lamentations。 He
appealed to Lucy； would not she intercede？ He was poorhe
sheltered a familythe tax on bread。 He waited； he gibbered； he
was recompensed； he was dissatisfied； he did not leave them until
he had swept their minds clean of all thoughts whether pleasant
or unpleasant。
Shopping was the topic that now ensued。 Under the chaplain's
guidance they selected many hideous presents and mementoes
florid little picture…frames that seemed fashioned in gilded
pastry； other little frames； more severe； that stood on little
easels； and were carven out of oak； a blotting book of vellum；
a Dante of the same material； cheap mosaic brooches； which the
maids； next Christmas； would never tell from real； pins； pots；
heraldic saucers； brown art…photographs； Eros and Psyche in
alabaster； St。 Peter to matchall of which would have cost less
in London。
This successful morning left no pleasant impressions on Lucy。 She
had been a little frightened； both by Miss Lavish and by Mr。
Eager； she knew not why。 And as they frightened her； she had；
strangely enough； ceased to respect them。 She doubted that Miss
Lavish was a great artist。 She doubted that Mr。 Eager was as full
of spirituality and culture as she had been led to suppose。 They
were tried by some new test； and they were found wanting。 As for
Charlotteas for Charlotte she was exactly the same。 It might be
possible to be nice to her； it was impossible to love her。
〃The son of a labourer； I happen to know it for a fact。 A
mechanic of some sort himself when he was young； then he took to
writing for the Socialistic Press。 I came across him at Brixton。〃
They were talking about the Emersons。
〃How wonderfully people rise in these days！〃 sighed Miss
Bartlett； fingering a model of the leaning Tower of Pisa。
〃Generally；〃 replied Mr。 Eager； 〃one has only sympathy for their
success。 The desire for education and for social advancein
these things there is something not wholly vile。 There are some
working men whom one would be very willing to see out here in
Florencelittle as they would make of it。〃
〃Is he a journalist now？〃 Miss Bartlett asked； 〃He is not； he
made an advantageous marriage。〃
He uttered this remark with a voice full of meaning； and ended
with a sigh。
〃Oh； so he has a wife。〃
〃Dead； Miss Bartlett； dead。 I wonderyes I wonder how he has the