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she was going to spend a long morning in Santa Croce； and if Lucy
would come too； she would be delighted。
〃I will take you by a dear dirty back way； Miss Honeychurch； and
if you bring me luck； we shall have an adventure。〃
Lucy said that this was most kind； and at once opened the
Baedeker； to see where Santa Croce was。
〃Tut； tut！ Miss Lucy！ I hope we shall soon emancipate you from
Baedeker。 He does but touch the surface of things。 As to the true
Italyhe does not even dream of it。 The true Italy is only to be
found by patient observation。〃
This sounded very interesting； and Lucy hurried over her
breakfast； and started with her new friend in high spirits。 Italy
was coming at last。 The Cockney Signora and her works had
vanished like a bad dream。
Miss Lavishfor that was the clever lady's nameturned to the
right along the sunny Lung' Arno。 How delightfully warm！ But a
wind down the side streets cut like a knife； didn't it？ Ponte
alle Grazieparticularly interesting； mentioned by Dante。 San
Miniatobeautiful as well as interesting； the crucifix that
kissed a murdererMiss Honeychurch would remember the story。 The
men on the river were fishing。 （Untrue； but then； so is most
information。） Then Miss Lavish darted under the archway of the
white bullocks； and she stopped； and she cried：
〃A smell！ a true Florentine smell！ Every city； let me teach you；
has its own smell。〃
〃Is it a very nice smell？〃 said Lucy； who had inherited from her
mother a distaste to dirt。
〃One doesn't come to Italy for niceness；〃 was the retort； 〃one
comes for life。 Buon giorno！ Buon giorno！〃 bowing right and
left。 〃Look at that adorable wine…cart！ How the driver stares at
us； dear； simple soul！〃
So Miss Lavish proceeded through the streets of the city of
Florence； short； fidgety； and playful as a kitten； though without
a kitten's grace。 It was a treat for the girl to be with any one
so clever and so cheerful； and a blue military cloak； such as an
Italian officer wears； only increased the sense of festivity。
〃Buon giorno！ Take the word of an old woman； Miss Lucy： you will
never repent of a little civility to your inferiors。 That is the
true democracy。 Though I am a real Radical as well。 There； now
you're shocked。〃
〃Indeed； I'm not！〃 exclaimed Lucy。 〃We are Radicals； too； out and
out。 My father always voted for Mr。 Gladstone； until he was so
dreadful about Ireland。〃
〃I see； I see。 And now you have gone over to the enemy。〃
〃Oh； please！ If my father was alive； I am sure he would vote
Radical again now that Ireland is all right。 And as it is； the
glass over our front door was broken last election； and Freddy is
sure it was the Tories； but mother says nonsense； a tramp。〃
〃Shameful！ A manufacturing district； I suppose？〃
〃Noin the Surrey hills。 About five miles from Dorking； looking
over the Weald。〃
Miss Lavish seemed interested； and slackened her trot。
〃What a delightful part； I know it so well。 It is full of the
very nicest people。 Do you know Sir Harry Otwaya Radical if
ever there was？〃
〃Very well indeed。〃
〃And old Mrs。 Butterworth the philanthropist？〃 〃Why； she rents a
field of us！ How funny！〃
Miss Lavish looked at the narrow ribbon of sky； and murmured：
〃Oh； you have property in Surrey？〃
〃Hardly any；〃 said Lucy； fearful of being thought a snob。 〃Only
thirty acresjust the garden； all downhill； and some fields。〃
Miss Lavish was not disgusted； and said it was just the size of
her aunt's Suffolk estate。 Italy receded。 They tried to remember
the last name of Lady Louisa some one； who had taken a house near
Summer Street the other year； but she had not liked it； which was
odd of her。 And just as Miss Lavish had got the name； she broke
off and exclaimed：
〃Bless us！ Bless us and save us！ We've lost the way。〃
Certainly they had seemed a long time in reaching Santa Croce；
the tower of which had been plainly visible from the landing
window。 But Miss Lavish had said so much about knowing her
Florence by heart； that Lucy had followed her with no misgivings。
〃Lost！ lost！ My dear Miss Lucy； during our political diatribes we
have taken a wrong turning。 How those horrid Conservatives would
jeer at us！ What are we to do？ Two lone females in an unknown
town。 Now； this is what I call an adventure。〃
Lucy； who wanted to see Santa Croce； suggested； as a possible
solution； that they should ask the way there。
〃Oh； but that is the word of a craven！ And no； you are not； not；
NOT to look at your Baedeker。 Give it to me； I shan't let you
carry it。 We will simply drift。〃
Accordingly they drifted through a series of those grey…brown
streets； neither commodious nor picturesque； in which the eastern
quarter of the city abounds。 Lucy soon lost interest in the
discontent of Lady Louisa； and became discontented herself。 For
one ravishing moment Italy appeared。 She stood in the Square of
the Annunziata and saw in the living terra…cotta those divine
babies whom no cheap reproduction can ever stale。 There they
stood； with their shining limbs bursting from the garments of
charity； and their strong white arms extended against circlets of
heaven。 Lucy thought she had never seen anything more beautiful；
but Miss Lavish； with a shriek of dismay； dragged her forward；
declaring that they were out of their path now by at least a
mile。
The hour was approaching at which the continental breakfast
begins； or rather ceases； to tell； and the ladies bought some hot
chestnut paste out of a little shop； because it looked so
typical。 It tasted partly of the paper in which it was wrapped；
partly of hair oil； partly of the great unknown。 But it gave them
strength to drift into another Piazza； large and dusty； on the
farther side of which rose a black…and…white facade of surpassing
ugliness。 Miss Lavish spoke to it dramatically。 It was Santa
Croce。 The adventure was over。
〃Stop a minute； let those two people go on； or I shall have to
speak to them。 I do detest conventional intercourse。 Nasty！ they
are going into the church； too。 Oh； the Britisher abroad！〃
〃We sat opposite them at dinner last night。 They have given us
their rooms。 They were so very kind。〃
〃Look at their figures！〃 laughed Miss Lavish。 〃They walk through
my Italy like a pair of cows。 It's very naughty of me； but I
would like to set an examination paper at Dover； and turn back
every tourist who couldn't pass it。〃
〃What would you ask us？〃
Miss Lavish laid her hand pleasantly on Lucy's arm； as if to
suggest that she； at all events； would get full marks。 In this
exalted mood they reached the steps of the great church； and were
about to enter it when Miss Lavish stopped； squeaked； flung up
her arms； and cried：
〃There goes my local…colour box！ I must have a word with him！〃
And in a moment she was away over the Piazza； her military cloak
flapping in the wind； nor did she slacken speed till she caught
up an old man with white whiskers； and nipped him playfully upon
the arm。
Lucy waited for nearly ten minutes。 Then she began to get tired。
The beggars worried her； the dust blew in her eyes； and she
remembered that a young girl ought not to loiter in public
places。 She descended slowly into the Piazza with the intention
of rejoining Miss Lavish； who was really almost too original。 But
at that moment Miss Lavish and her local…colour box moved also；
and disappeared down a side street； both gesticulating largely。
Tears of indignation came to Lucy's eyes partly because Miss
Lavish had jilted her； partly because she had taken her Baedeker。
How could she find her way home？ How could she find her way about
in Santa Croce？ Her first morning was ruined； and she might never
be in Florence again。 A few minutes ago she had been all high
spirits； talking as a woman of culture； and half persuading
herself that she was full of originality。 Now she entered the
church depressed and humiliated； not even able to remember
whether it was built by the Franciscans or the Dominicans。
Of course； it must be a wonderful building。 But how like a barn！
And how very cold！ Of course； it contained frescoes by Giotto； in
the presence of whose tactile values she was capable of feeling
what was proper。 But who was to tell her which they were？ She
walked about disdainfully； unwilling to be enthusiastic over
monuments of uncertain authorship or date。 There was no one even
to tell her which； of all the sepulchral slabs that paved the
nave and transepts； was the one that was really beautiful； the
one that had been most praised by Mr。 Ruskin。
Then the pernicious charm of Italy worked on her； and； instead of
acquiring information； she began to be happy。 She puzzled out the
Italian noticesthe notices that forbade people to introduce
dogs into the churchthe notice that prayed people； in the
interest of health and out of respect to