第7章
MissBartlettwasinthedrawing-room，gazingatthephotographofSt。Johnascending，whichhadbeenframed。
"Howdreadful!"shemurmured，"howmorethandreadful，ifMr。
Vyseshouldcometohearofitfromsomeothersource。”
"Oh，no，Charlotte，"saidthegirl，enteringthebattle。"GeorgeEmersonisallright，andwhatothersourceisthere？"
MissBartlettconsidered。"Forinstance，thedriver。Isawhimlookingthroughthebushesatyou，rememberhehadavioletbetweenhisteeth。”
Lucyshudderedalittle。"Weshallgetthesillyaffaironournervesifwearen"tcareful。HowcouldaFlorentinecab-driverevergetholdofCecil？"
"Wemustthinkofeverypossibility。”
"Oh，it"sallright。”
"OrperhapsoldMr。Emersonknows。Infact，heiscertaintoknow。”
"Idon"tcareifhedoes。Iwasgratefultoyouforyourletter，butevenifthenewsdoesgetround，IthinkIcantrustCeciltolaughatit。”
"Tocontradictit？"
"No，tolaughatit。”Butsheknewinherheartthatshecouldnottrusthim，forhedesiredheruntouched。
"Verywell，dear，youknowbest。PerhapsgentlemenaredifferenttowhattheywerewhenIwasyoung。Ladiesarecertainlydifferent。”
"Now，Charlotte!"Shestruckatherplayfully。"Youkind，anxiousthing。WhatWOULDyouhavemedo？Firstyousay"Don"ttell"；andthenyousay，"Tell"。Whichisittobe？Quick!"
MissBartlettsighed"Iamnomatchforyouinconversation，dearest。IblushwhenIthinkhowIinterferedatFlorence，andyousowellabletolookafteryourself，andsomuchclevererinallwaysthanIam。Youwillneverforgiveme。”
"Shallwegoout，then。Theywillsmashallthechinaifwedon"t。”
FortheairrangwiththeshrieksofMinnie，whowasbeingscalpedwithateaspoon。
"Dear，onemoment——wemaynothavethischanceforachatagain。
Haveyouseentheyoungoneyet？"
"Yes，Ihave。”
"Whathappened？"
"WemetattheRectory。”
"Whatlineishetakingup？"
"Noline。HetalkedaboutItaly，likeanyotherperson。Itisreallyallright。Whatadvantagewouldhegetfrombeingacad，toputitbluntly？IdowishIcouldmakeyouseeitmyway。Hereallywon"tbeanynuisance，Charlotte。”
"Onceacad，alwaysacad。Thatismypooropinion。”
Lucypaused。"Cecilsaidoneday——andIthoughtitsoprofound——thattherearetwokindsofcads——theconsciousandthesubconscious。”Shepausedagain，tobesureofdoingjusticetoCecil"sprofundity。ThroughthewindowshesawCecilhimself，turningoverthepagesofanovel。ItwasanewonefromSmith"slibrary。Hermothermusthavereturnedfromthestation。
"Onceacad，alwaysacad，"dronedMissBartlett。
"WhatImeanbysubconsciousisthatEmersonlosthishead。I
fellintoallthoseviolets，andhewassillyandsurprised。I
don"tthinkweoughttoblamehimverymuch。Itmakessuchadifferencewhenyouseeapersonwithbeautifulthingsbehindhimunexpectedly。Itreallydoes；itmakesanenormousdifference，andhelosthishead:hedoesn"tadmireme，oranyofthatnonsense，onestraw。Freddyratherlikeshim，andhasaskedhimuphereonSunday，soyoucanjudgeforyourself。Hehasimproved；hedoesn"talwayslookasifhe"sgoingtoburstintotears。HeisaclerkintheGeneralManager"sofficeatoneofthebigrailways——notaporter!andrunsdowntohisfatherforweek-ends。Papawastodowithjournalism，butisrheumaticandhasretired。There!Nowforthegarden。”Shetookholdofherguestbythearm。"Supposewedon"ttalkaboutthissillyItalianbusinessanymore。WewantyoutohaveanicerestfulvisitatWindyCorner，withnoworriting。”
Lucythoughtthisratheragoodspeech。Thereadermayhavedetectedanunfortunateslipinit。WhetherMissBartlettdetectedthesliponecannotsay，foritisimpossibletopenetrateintothemindsofelderlypeople。Shemighthavespokenfurther，buttheywereinterruptedbytheentranceofherhostess。Explanationstookplace，andinthemidstofthemLucyescaped，theimagesthrobbingalittlemorevividlyinherbrain。
ChapterXV:TheDisasterWithinTheSundayafterMissBartlett"sarrivalwasagloriousday，likemostofthedaysofthatyear。IntheWeald，autumnapproached，breakingupthegreenmonotonyofsummer，touchingtheparkswiththegreybloomofmist，thebeech-treeswithrusset，theoak-treeswithgold。Upontheheights，battalionsofblackpineswitnessedthechange，themselvesunchangeable。Eithercountrywasspannedbyacloudlesssky，andineitherarosethetinkleofchurchbells。
ThegardenofWindyCornerswasdesertedexceptforaredbook，whichlaysunningitselfuponthegravelpath。Fromthehousecameincoherentsounds，asoffemalespreparingforworship。"Themensaytheywon"tgo"——"Well，Idon"tblamethem"——Minniesays，needshego？"——"Tellher，nononsense"——"Anne!Mary!
Hookmebehind!"——"DearestLucia，mayItrespassuponyouforapin？"ForMissBartletthadannouncedthatsheatalleventswasoneforchurch。
Thesunrosehigheronitsjourney，guided，notbyPhaethon，butbyApollo，competent，unswerving，divine。Itsraysfellontheladieswhenevertheyadvancedtowardsthebedroomwindows；onMr。BeebedownatSummerStreetashesmiledoveraletterfromMissCatharineAlan；onGeorgeEmersoncleaninghisfather"sboots；andlastly，tocompletethecatalogueofmemorablethings，ontheredbookmentionedpreviously。Theladiesmove，Mr。Beebemoves，Georgemoves，andmovementmayengendershadow。
Butthisbookliesmotionless，tobecaressedallthemorningbythesunandtoraiseitscoversslightly，asthoughacknowledgingthecaress。
PresentlyLucystepsoutofthedrawing-roomwindow。Hernewcerisedresshasbeenafailure，andmakesherlooktawdryandwan。Atherthroatisagarnetbrooch，onherfingeraringsetwithrubies——anengagementring。HereyesarebenttotheWeald。
Shefrownsalittle——notinanger，butasabravechildfrownswhenheistryingnottocry。Inallthatexpansenohumaneyeislookingather，andshemayfrownunrebukedandmeasurethespacesthatyetsurvivebetweenApolloandthewesternhills。
"Lucy!Lucy!What"sthatbook？Who"sbeentakingabookoutoftheshelfandleavingitabouttospoil？"
"It"sonlythelibrarybookthatCecil"sbeenreading。”
"Butpickitup，anddon"tstandidlingtherelikeaflamingo。”
Lucypickedupthebookandglancedatthetitlelistlessly，UnderaLoggia。Shenolongerreadnovelsherself，devotingallhersparetimetosolidliteratureinthehopeofcatchingCecilup。Itwasdreadfulhowlittlesheknew，andevenwhenshethoughtsheknewathing，liketheItalianpainters，shefoundshehadforgottenit。OnlythismorningshehadconfusedFrancescoFranciawithPierodellaFrancesca，andCecilhadsaid，"What!youaren"tforgettingyourItalyalready？"Andthistoohadlentanxietytohereyeswhenshesalutedthedearviewandthedeargardenintheforeground，andabovethem，scarcelyconceivableelsewhere，thedearsun。
"Lucy——haveyouasixpenceforMinnieandashillingforyourself？"
Shehastenedintohermother，whowasrapidlyworkingherselfintoaSundayfluster。
"It"saspecialcollection——Iforgetwhatfor。Idobeg，novulgarclinkingintheplatewithhalfpennies；seethatMinniehasanicebrightsixpence。Whereisthechild？Minnie!Thatbook"sallwarped。(Gracious，howplainyoulook!)PutitundertheAtlastopress。Minnie!"
"Oh，Mrs。Honeychurch——"fromtheupperregions。
"Minnie，don"tbelate。Herecomesthehorse"——itwasalwaysthehorse，neverthecarriage。"Where"sCharlotte？Runupandhurryher。Whyisshesolong？Shehadnothingtodo。Sheneverbringsanythingbutblouses。PoorCharlotte——HowIdodetestblouses!
Minnie!"
Paganismisinfectious——moreinfectiousthandiphtheriaorpiety——andtheRector"sniecewastakentochurchprotesting。Asusual，shedidn"tseewhy。Whyshouldn"tshesitinthesunwiththeyoungmen？Theyoungmen，whohadnowappeared，mockedherwithungenerouswords。Mrs。Honeychurchdefendedorthodoxy，andinthemidstoftheconfusionMissBartlett，dressedintheveryheightofthefashion，camestrollingdownthestairs。
"DearMarian，Iamverysorry，butIhavenosmallchange——
nothingbutsovereignsandhalfcrowns。Couldanyonegiveme——"
"Yes，easily。Jumpin。Graciousme，howsmartyoulook!Whatalovelyfrock!Youputusalltoshame。”
"IfIdidnotwearmybestragsandtattersnow，whenshouldI
wearthem？"saidMissBartlettreproachfully。Shegotintothevictoriaandplacedherselfwithherbacktothehorse。Thenecessaryroarensued，andthentheydroveoff。
"Good-bye!Begood!"calledoutCecil。
Lucybitherlip，forthetonewassneering。Onthesubjectof"churchandsoon"theyhadhadratheranunsatisfactoryconversation。Hehadsaidthatpeopleoughttooverhaulthemselves，andshedidnotwanttooverhaulherself；shedidnotknowitwasdone。HonestorthodoxyCecilrespected，buthealwaysassumedthathonestyistheresultofaspiritualcrisis；hecouldnotimagineitasanaturalbirthright，thatmightgrowheavenwardlikeflowers。Allthathesaidonthissubjectpainedher，thoughheexudedtolerancefromeverypore；somehowtheEmersonsweredifferent。
ShesawtheEmersonsafterchurch。Therewasalineofcarriagesdowntheroad，andtheHoneychurchvehiclehappenedtobeoppositeCissieVilla。Tosavetime，theywalkedoverthegreentoit，andfoundfatherandsonsmokinginthegarden。
"Introduceme，"saidhermother。"Unlesstheyoungmanconsidersthatheknowsmealready。”
Heprobablydid；butLucyignoredtheSacredLakeandintroducedthemformally。OldMr。Emersonclaimedherwithmuchwarmth，andsaidhowgladhewasthatshewasgoingtobemarried。Shesaidyes，shewasgladtoo；andthen，asMissBartlettandMinniewerelingeringbehindwithMr。Beebe，sheturnedtheconversationtoalessdisturbingtopic，andaskedhimhowhelikedhisnewhouse。
"Verymuch，"hereplied，buttherewasanoteofoffenceinhisvoice；shehadneverknownhimoffendedbefore。Headded:"Wefind，though，thattheMissAlanswerecoming，andthatwehaveturnedthemout。Womenmindsuchathing。Iamverymuchupsetaboutit。”
"Ibelievethattherewassomemisunderstanding，"saidMrs。
Honeychurchuneasily。
"Ourlandlordwastoldthatweshouldbeadifferenttypeofperson，"saidGeorge，whoseemeddisposedtocarrythematterfurther。"Hethoughtweshouldbeartistic。Heisdisappointed。”
"AndIwonderwhetherweoughttowritetotheMissAlansandoffertogiveitup。Whatdoyouthink？"HeappealedtoLucy。
"Oh，stopnowyouhavecome，"saidLucylightly。ShemustavoidcensuringCecil。ForitwasonCecilthatthelittleepisodeturned，thoughhisnamewasnevermentioned。
"SoGeorgesays。HesaysthattheMissAlansmustgotothewall。
Yetitdoesseemsounkind。”
"Thereisonlyacertainamountofkindnessintheworld，"saidGeorge，watchingthesunlightflashonthepanelsofthepassingcarriages。
"Yes!"exclaimedMrs。Honeychurch。"That"sexactlywhatIsay。
WhyallthistwiddlingandtwaddlingovertwoMissAlans？"
"Thereisacertainamountofkindness，justasthereisacertainamountoflight，"hecontinuedinmeasuredtones。"Wecastashadowonsomethingwhereverwestand，anditisnogoodmovingfromplacetoplacetosavethings；becausetheshadowalwaysfollows。Chooseaplacewhereyouwon"tdoharm——yes，chooseaplacewhereyouwon"tdoverymuchharm，andstandinitforallyouareworth，facingthesunshine。”
"Oh，Mr。Emerson，Iseeyou"reclever!"
"Eh——？"
"Iseeyou"regoingtobeclever。Ihopeyoudidn"tgobehavinglikethattopoorFreddy。”
George"seyeslaughed，andLucysuspectedthatheandhermotherwouldgetonratherwell。
"No，Ididn"t，"hesaid。"Hebehavedthatwaytome。Itishisphilosophy。Onlyhestartslifewithit；andIhavetriedtheNoteofInterrogationfirst。”
"WhatDOyoumean？No，nevermindwhatyoumean。Don"texplain。
Helooksforwardtoseeingyouthisafternoon。Doyouplaytennis？DoyoumindtennisonSunday——？"
"GeorgemindtennisonSunday!George，afterhiseducation，distinguishbetweenSunday——"
"Verywell，Georgedoesn"tmindtennisonSunday。NomoredoI。
That"ssettled。Mr。Emerson，ifyoucouldcomewithyoursonweshouldbesopleased。”
Hethankedher，butthewalksoundedratherfar；hecouldonlypotteraboutinthesedays。
SheturnedtoGeorge:"AndthenhewantstogiveuphishousetotheMissAlans。”
"Iknow，"saidGeorge，andputhisarmroundhisfather"sneck。
ThekindnessthatMr。BeebeandLucyhadalwaysknowntoexistinhimcameoutsuddenly，likesunlighttouchingavastlandscape——atouchofthemorningsun？Sherememberedthatinallhisperversitieshehadneverspokenagainstaffection。
MissBartlettapproached。
"Youknowourcousin，MissBartlett，"saidMrs。Honeychurchpleasantly。"YoumetherwithmydaughterinFlorence。”
"Yes，indeed!"saidtheoldman，andmadeasifhewouldcomeoutofthegardentomeetthelady。MissBartlettpromptlygotintothevictoria。Thusentrenched，sheemittedaformalbow。ItwasthepensionBertoliniagain，thedining-tablewiththedecantersofwaterandwine。Itwastheold，oldbattleoftheroomwiththeview。
Georgedidnotrespondtothebow。Likeanyboy，heblushedandwasashamed；heknewthatthechaperonremembered。Hesaid:"I——
I"llcomeuptotennisifIcanmanageit，"andwentintothehouse。PerhapsanythingthathedidwouldhavepleasedLucy，buthisawkwardnesswentstraighttoherheart；menwerenotgodsafterall，butashumanandasclumsyasgirls；evenmenmightsufferfromunexplaineddesires，andneedhelp。Tooneofherupbringing，andofherdestination，theweaknessofmenwasatruthunfamiliar，butshehadsurmiseditatFlorence，whenGeorgethrewherphotographsintotheRiverArno。
"George，don"tgo，"criedhisfather，whothoughtitagreattreatforpeopleifhissonwouldtalktothem。"Georgehasbeeninsuchgoodspiritstoday，andIamsurehewillendbycomingupthisafternoon。”
Lucycaughthercousin"seye。Somethinginitsmuteappealmadeherreckless。"Yes，"shesaid，raisinghervoice，"Idohopehewill。”Thenshewenttothecarriageandmurmured，"Theoldmanhasn"tbeentold；Iknewitwasallright。”Mrs。Honeychurchfollowedher，andtheydroveaway。
SatisfactorythatMr。EmersonhadnotbeentoldoftheFlorenceescapade；yetLucy"sspiritsshouldnothaveleaptupasifshehadsightedtherampartsofheaven。Satisfactory；yetsurelyshegreeteditwithdisproportionatejoy。Allthewayhomethehorses"hoofssangatunetoher:"Hehasnottold，hehasnottold。”Herbrainexpandedthemelody:"Hehasnottoldhisfather——towhomhetellsallthings。Itwasnotanexploit。HedidnotlaughatmewhenIhadgone。”Sheraisedherhandtohercheek。"Hedoesnotloveme。No。Howterribleifhedid!Buthehasnottold。Hewillnottell。”
Shelongedtoshoutthewords:"Itisallright。It"sasecretbetweenustwoforever。Cecilwillneverhear。”ShewasevengladthatMissBartletthadmadeherpromisesecrecy，thatlastdarkeveningatFlorence，whentheyhadkneltpackinginhisroom。Thesecret，bigorlittle，wasguarded。
OnlythreeEnglishpeopleknewofitintheworld。Thussheinterpretedherjoy。ShegreetedCecilwithunusualradiance，becauseshefeltsosafe。Ashehelpedheroutofthecarriage，shesaid:
"TheEmersonshavebeensonice。GeorgeEmersonhasimprovedenormously。”
"Howaremyproteges？"askedCecil，whotooknorealinterestinthem，andhadlongsinceforgottenhisresolutiontobringthemtoWindyCornerforeducationalpurposes。
"Proteges!"sheexclaimedwithsomewarmth。FortheonlyrelationshipwhichCecilconceivedwasfeudal:thatofprotectorandprotected。Hehadnoglimpseofthecomradeshipafterwhichthegirl"ssoulyearned。
"Youshallseeforyourselfhowyourprotegesare。GeorgeEmersoniscomingupthisafternoon。Heisamostinterestingmantotalkto。Onlydon"t——"Shenearlysaid，"Don"tprotecthim。”Butthebellwasringingforlunch，and，asoftenhappened，Cecilhadpaidnogreatattentiontoherremarks。Charm，notargument，wastobeherforte。
Lunchwasacheerfulmeal。GenerallyLucywasdepressedatmeals。
Someonehadtobesoothed——eitherCecilorMissBartlettoraBeingnotvisibletothemortaleye——aBeingwhowhisperedtohersoul:"Itwillnotlast，thischeerfulness。InJanuaryyoumustgotoLondontoentertainthegrandchildrenofcelebratedmen。”
Butto-dayshefeltshehadreceivedaguarantee。Hermotherwouldalwayssitthere，herbrotherhere。Thesun，thoughithadmovedalittlesincethemorning，wouldneverbehiddenbehindthewesternhills。Afterluncheontheyaskedhertoplay。ShehadseenGluck"sArmidethatyear，andplayedfrommemorythemusicoftheenchantedgarden——themusictowhichRenaudapproaches，beneaththelightofaneternaldawn，themusicthatnevergains，neverwanes，butripplesforeverlikethetidelessseasoffairyland。Suchmusicisnotforthepiano，andheraudiencebegantogetrestive，andCecil，sharingthediscontent，calledout:"Nowplayustheothergarden——theoneinParsifal。”
Sheclosedtheinstrument。
"Notverydutiful，"saidhermother"svoice。
FearingthatshehadoffendedCecil，sheturnedquicklyround。
ThereGeorgewas。Hehadcreptinwithoutinterruptingher。
"Oh，Ihadnoidea!"sheexclaimed，gettingveryred；andthen，withoutawordofgreeting，shereopenedthepiano。CecilshouldhavetheParsifal，andanythingelsethatheliked。
"Ourperformerhaschangedhermind，"saidMissBartlett，perhapsimplying，shewillplaythemusictoMr。Emerson。Lucydidnotknowwhattodonorevenwhatshewantedtodo。SheplayedafewbarsoftheFlowerMaidens"songverybadlyandthenshestopped。
"Ivotetennis，"saidFreddy，disgustedatthescrappyentertainment。
"Yes，sodoI。”Oncemoresheclosedtheunfortunatepiano。"I
voteyouhaveamen"sfour。”
"Allright。”
"Notforme，thankyou，"saidCecil。"Iwillnotspoiltheset。”
Heneverrealizedthatitmaybeanactofkindnessinabadplayertomakeupafourth。
"Oh，comealongCecil。I"mbad，Floyd"srotten，andsoIdaresay"sEmerson。”
Georgecorrectedhim:"Iamnotbad。”
Onelookeddownone"snoseatthis。"ThencertainlyIwon"tplay，"saidCecil，whileMissBartlett，undertheimpressionthatshewassnubbingGeorge，added:"Iagreewithyou，Mr。Vyse。Youhadmuchbetternotplay。Muchbetternot。”
Minnie，rushinginwhereCecilfearedtotread，announcedthatshewouldplay。"Ishallmisseveryballanyway，sowhatdoesitmatter？"ButSundayintervenedandstampedheavilyuponthekindlysuggestion。
"ThenitwillhavetobeLucy，"saidMrs。Honeychurch；"youmustfallbackonLucy。Thereisnootherwayoutofit。Lucy，goandchangeyourfrock。”
Lucy"sSabbathwasgenerallyofthisamphibiousnature。Shekeptitwithouthypocrisyinthemorning，andbrokeitwithoutreluctanceintheafternoon。Asshechangedherfrock，shewonderedwhetherCecilwassneeringather；reallyshemustoverhaulherselfandsettleeverythingupbeforeshemarriedhim。
Mr。Floydwasherpartner。Shelikedmusic，buthowmuchbettertennisseemed。Howmuchbettertorunaboutincomfortableclothesthantositatthepianoandfeelgirtunderthearms。
Oncemoremusicappearedtohertheemploymentofachild。Georgeserved，andsurprisedherbyhisanxietytowin。SherememberedhowhehadsighedamongthetombsatSantaCrocebecausethingswouldn"tfit；howafterthedeathofthatobscureItalianhehadleantovertheparapetbytheArnoandsaidtoher:"Ishallwanttolive，Itellyou，"Hewantedtolivenow，towinattennis，tostandforallhewasworthinthesun——thesunwhichhadbeguntodeclineandwasshininginhereyes；andhedidwin。
Ah，howbeautifultheWealdlooked!Thehillsstoodoutaboveitsradiance，asFiesolestandsabovetheTuscanPlain，andtheSouthDowns，ifonechose，werethemountainsofCarrara。ShemightbeforgettingherItaly，butshewasnoticingmorethingsinherEngland。Onecouldplayanewgamewiththeview，andtrytofindinitsinnumerablefoldssometownorvillagethatwoulddoforFlorence。Ah，howbeautifultheWealdlooked!
ButnowCecilclaimedher。Hechancedtobeinalucidcriticalmood，andwouldnotsympathizewithexaltation。Hehadbeenratheranuisanceallthroughthetennis，forthenovelthathewasreadingwassobadthathewasobligedtoreaditaloudtoothers。Hewouldstrollroundtheprecinctsofthecourtandcallout:"Isay，listentothis，Lucy。Threesplitinfinitives。”
"Dreadful!"saidLucy，andmissedherstroke。Whentheyhadfinishedtheirset，hestillwentonreading；therewassomemurderscene，andreallyeveryonemustlistentoit。FreddyandMr。Floydwereobligedtohuntforalostballinthelaurels，buttheothertwoacquiesced。
"ThesceneislaidinFlorence。”
"Whatfun，Cecil!Readaway。Come，Mr。Emerson，sitdownafterallyourenergy。”Shehad"forgiven"George，assheputit，andshemadeapointofbeingpleasanttohim。
Hejumpedoverthenetandsatdownatherfeetasking:"You——andareyoutired？"
"OfcourseI"mnot!"
"Doyoumindbeingbeaten？"
Shewasgoingtoanswer，"No，"whenitstruckherthatshedidmind，sosheanswered，"Yes。”Sheaddedmerrily，"Idon"tseeyou"resuchasplendidplayer，though。Thelightwasbehindyou，anditwasinmyeyes。”
"IneversaidIwas。”
"Why，youdid!"
"Youdidn"tattend。”
"Yousaid——oh，don"tgoinforaccuracyatthishouse。Weallexaggerate，andwegetveryangrywithpeoplewhodon"t。”
""ThesceneislaidinFlorence，""repeatedCecil，withanupwardnote。
Lucyrecollectedherself。
""Sunset。Leonorawasspeeding——""
Lucyinterrupted。"Leonora？IsLeonoratheheroine？Who"sthebookby？"
"JosephEmeryPrank。"Sunset。Leonoraspeedingacrossthesquare。
Praythesaintsshemightnotarrivetoolate。Sunset——thesunsetofItaly。UnderOrcagna"sLoggia——theLoggiade"Lanzi，aswesometimescallitnow——""
Lucyburstintolaughter。""JosephEmeryPrank"indeed!Whyit"sMissLavish!It"sMissLavish"snovel，andshe"spublishingitundersomebodyelse"sname。”
"WhomayMissLavishbe？"
"Oh，adreadfulperson——Mr。Emerson，yourememberMissLavish？"
Excitedbyherpleasantafternoon，sheclappedherhands。
Georgelookedup。"OfcourseIdo。IsawherthedayIarrivedatSummerStreet。Itwasshewhotoldmethatyoulivedhere。”
"Weren"tyoupleased？"Shemeant"toseeMissLavish，"butwhenhebentdowntothegrasswithoutreplying，itstruckherthatshecouldmeansomethingelse。Shewatchedhishead，whichwasalmostrestingagainstherknee，andshethoughtthattheearswerereddening。"Nowonderthenovel"sbad，"sheadded。"IneverlikedMissLavish。ButIsupposeoneoughttoreaditasone"smether。”
"Allmodernbooksarebad，"saidCecil，whowasannoyedatherinattention，andventedhisannoyanceonliterature。"Everyonewritesformoneyinthesedays。”
"Oh，Cecil——!"
"Itisso。IwillinflictJosephEmeryPrankonyounolonger。”
Cecil，thisafternoonseemedsuchatwitteringsparrow。Theupsanddownsinhisvoicewerenoticeable，buttheydidnotaffecther。Shehaddweltamongstmelodyandmovement，andhernervesrefusedtoanswertotheclangofhis。Leavinghimtobeannoyed，shegazedattheblackheadagain。Shedidnotwanttostrokeit，butshesawherselfwantingtostrokeit；thesensationwascurious。
"Howdoyoulikethisviewofours，Mr。Emerson？"
"Inevernoticemuchdifferenceinviews。”
"Whatdoyoumean？"
"Becausethey"reallalike。Becauseallthatmattersinthemisdistanceandair。”
"H"m!"saidCecil，uncertainwhethertheremarkwasstrikingornot。
"Myfather"——helookedupather(andhewasalittleflushed)——
"saysthatthereisonlyoneperfectview——theviewoftheskystraightoverourheads，andthatalltheseviewsoneartharebutbungledcopiesofit。”
"IexpectyourfatherhasbeenreadingDante，"saidCecil，fingeringthenovel，whichalonepermittedhimtoleadtheconversation。
"Hetoldusanotherdaythatviewsarereallycrowds——crowdsoftreesandhousesandhills——andareboundtoresembleeachother，likehumancrowds——andthatthepowertheyhaveoverusissometimessupernatural，forthesamereason。”
Lucy"slipsparted。
"Foracrowdismorethanthepeoplewhomakeitup。Somethinggetsaddedtoit——nooneknowshow——justassomethinghasgotaddedtothosehills。”
HepointedwithhisracquettotheSouthDowns。
"Whatasplendididea!"shemurmured。"Ishallenjoyhearingyourfathertalkagain。I"msosorryhe"snotsowell。”
"No，heisn"twell。”
"There"sanabsurdaccountofaviewinthisbook，"saidCecil。
"Alsothatmenfallintotwoclasses——thosewhoforgetviewsandthosewhorememberthem，eveninsmallrooms。”
"Mr。Emerson，haveyouanybrothersorsisters？"
"None。Why？"
"Youspokeof"us。""
"Mymother，Iwasmeaning。”
Cecilclosedthenovelwithabang。
"Oh，Cecil——howyoumademejump!"
"IwillinflictJosephEmeryPrankonyounolonger。”
"IcanjustrememberusallthreegoingintothecountryforthedayandseeingasfarasHindhead。ItisthefirstthingthatI
remember。”
Cecilgotup；themanwasill-bred——hehadn"tputonhiscoataftertennis——hedidn"tdo。HewouldhavestrolledawayifLucyhadnotstoppedhim。
"Cecil，doreadthethingabouttheview。”
"NotwhileMr。Emersonisheretoentertainus。”
"No——readaway。Ithinknothing"sfunnierthantohearsillythingsreadoutloud。IfMr。Emersonthinksusfrivolous，hecango。”
ThisstruckCecilassubtle，andpleasedhim。Itputtheirvisitorinthepositionofaprig。Somewhatmollified，hesatdownagain。
"Mr。Emerson，goandfindtennisballs。”Sheopenedthebook。
Cecilmusthavehisreadingandanythingelsethatheliked。ButherattentionwanderedtoGeorge"smother，who——accordingtoMr。
Eager——hadbeenmurderedinthesightofGodaccordingtoherson——hadseenasfarasHindhead。
"AmIreallytogo？"askedGeorge。
"No，ofcoursenotreally，"sheanswered。
"Chaptertwo，"saidCecil，yawning。"Findmechaptertwo，ifitisn"tbotheringyou。”
Chaptertwowasfound，andsheglancedatitsopeningsentences。
Shethoughtshehadgonemad。
"Here——handmethebook。”
Sheheardhervoicesaying:"Itisn"tworthreading——it"stoosillytoread——Ineversawsuchrubbish——itoughtn"ttobeallowedtobeprinted。”
Hetookthebookfromher。
""Leonora，""heread，""satpensiveandalone。BeforeherlaytherichchampaignofTuscany，dottedoverwithmanyasmilingvillage。Theseasonwasspring。""
MissLavishknew，somehow，andhadprintedthepastindraggledprose，forCeciltoreadandforGeorgetohear。
""Agoldenhaze，""heread。Heread:""AfaroffthetowersofFlorence，whilethebankonwhichshesatwascarpetedwithviolets。AllunobservedAntoniostoleupbehindher——""
LestCecilshouldseeherfacesheturnedtoGeorgeandsawhisface。
Heread:""Therecamefromhislipsnowordyprotestationsuchasformalloversuse。Noeloquencewashis，nordidhesufferfromthelackofit。Hesimplyenfoldedherinhismanlyarms。""
"Thisisn"tthepassageIwanted，"heinformedthem。"thereisanothermuchfunnier，furtheron。”Heturnedovertheleaves。
"Shouldwegointotea？"saidLucy，whosevoiceremainedsteady。
Sheledthewayupthegarden，Cecilfollowingher，Georgelast。
Shethoughtadisasterwasaverted。Butwhentheyenteredtheshrubberyitcame。Thebook，asifithadnotworkedmischiefenough，hadbeenforgotten，andCecilmustgobackforit；andGeorge，wholovedpassionately，mustblunderagainstherinthenarrowpath。
"No——"shegasped，and，forthesecondtime，waskissedbyhim。
Asifnomorewaspossible，heslippedback；Cecilrejoinedher；
theyreachedtheupperlawnalone。
ChapterXVI:LyingtoGeorgeButLucyhaddevelopedsincethespring。Thatistosay，shewasnowbetterabletostifletheemotionsofwhichtheconventionsandtheworlddisapprove。Thoughthedangerwasgreater，shewasnotshakenbydeepsobs。ShesaidtoCecil，"Iamnotcomingintotea——tellmother——Imustwritesomeletters，"andwentuptoherroom。Thenshepreparedforaction。Lovefeltandreturned，lovewhichourbodiesexactandourheartshavetransfigured，lovewhichisthemostrealthingthatweshallevermeet，reappearednowastheworld"senemy，andshemuststifleit。
ShesentforMissBartlett。
Thecontestlaynotbetweenloveandduty。Perhapsthereneverissuchacontest。Itlaybetweentherealandthepretended，andLucy"sfirstaimwastodefeatherself。Asherbraincloudedover，asthememoryoftheviewsgrewdimandthewordsofthebookdiedaway，shereturnedtoheroldshibbolethofnerves。She"conqueredherbreakdown。”Tamperingwiththetruth，sheforgotthatthetruthhadeverbeen。RememberingthatshewasengagedtoCecil，shecompelledherselftoconfusedremembrancesofGeorge；
hewasnothingtoher；heneverhadbeenanything；hehadbehavedabominably；shehadneverencouragedhim。Thearmouroffalsehoodissubtlywroughtoutofdarkness，andhidesamannotonlyfromothers，butfromhisownsoul。InafewmomentsLucywasequippedforbattle。
"Somethingtooawfulhashappened，"shebegan，assoonashercousinarrived。"DoyouknowanythingaboutMissLavish"snovel？"
MissBartlettlookedsurprised，andsaidthatshehadnotreadthebook，norknownthatitwaspublished；Eleanorwasareticentwomanatheart。
"Thereisasceneinit。Theheroandheroinemakelove。Doyouknowaboutthat？"
"Dear——？"
"Doyouknowaboutit，please？"sherepeated。"Theyareonahillside，andFlorenceisinthedistance。”
"MygoodLucia，Iamallatsea。Iknownothingaboutitwhatever。”
"Thereareviolets。Icannotbelieveitisacoincidence。
Charlotte，Charlotte，howcouldyouhavetoldher？Ihavethoughtbeforespeaking；itmustbeyou。”
"Thennever——never——nevermoreshallEleanorLavishbeafriendofmine。”
"Soyoudidtell？"
"Ididjusthappen——whenIhadteawithheratRome——inthecourseofconversation——"
"ButCharlotte——whataboutthepromiseyougavemewhenwewerepacking？WhydidyoutellMissLavish，whenyouwouldn"tevenletmetellmother？"
"IwillneverforgiveEleanor。Shehasbetrayedmyconfidence。”
"Whydidyoutellher，though？Thisisamostseriousthing。”
Whydoesanyonetellanything？Thequestioniseternal，anditwasnotsurprisingthatMissBartlettshouldonlysighfaintlyinresponse。Shehaddonewrong——sheadmittedit，sheonlyhopedthatshehadnotdoneharm；shehadtoldEleanorinthestrictestconfidence。
Lucystampedwithirritation。
"CecilhappenedtoreadoutthepassagealoudtomeandtoMr。
Emerson；itupsetMr。Emersonandheinsultedmeagain。BehindCecil"sback。Ugh!Isitpossiblethatmenaresuchbrutes？
BehindCecil"sbackaswewerewalkingupthegarden。”
MissBartlettburstintoself-accusationsandregrets。
"Whatistobedonenow？Canyoutellme？"
"Oh，Lucy——Ishallneverforgivemyself，nevertomydyingday。
Fancyifyourprospects——"
"Iknow，"saidLucy，wincingattheword。"IseenowwhyyouwantedmetotellCecil，andwhatyoumeantby"someothersource。"YouknewthatyouhadtoldMissLavish，andthatshewasnotreliable。
ItwasMissBartlett"sturntowince。"However，"saidthegirl，despisinghercousin"sshiftiness，"What"sdone"sdone。Youhaveputmeinamostawkwardposition。HowamItogetoutofit？"
MissBartlettcouldnotthink。Thedaysofherenergywereover。
Shewasavisitor，notachaperon，andadiscreditedvisitoratthat。Shestoodwithclaspedhandswhilethegirlworkedherselfintothenecessaryrage。
"Hemust——thatmanmusthavesuchasettingdownthathewon"tforget。Andwho"stogiveithim？Ican"ttellmothernow——owingtoyou。NorCecil，Charlotte，owingtoyou。Iamcaughtupeveryway。IthinkIshallgomad。Ihavenoonetohelpme。That"swhyI"vesentforyou。What"swantedisamanwithawhip。”
MissBartlettagreed:onewantedamanwithawhip。
"Yes——butit"snogoodagreeing。What"stobeDONE。Wewomengomaunderingon。WhatDOESagirldowhenshecomesacrossacad？"
"Ialwayssaidhewasacad，dear。Givemecreditforthat，atallevents。Fromtheveryfirstmoment——whenhesaidhisfatherwashavingabath。”
"Oh，botherthecreditandwho"sbeenrightorwrong!We"vebothmadeamuddleofit。GeorgeEmersonisstilldownthegardenthere，andishetobeleftunpunished，orisn"the？Iwanttoknow。”
MissBartlettwasabsolutelyhelpless。Herownexposurehadunnervedher，andthoughtswerecollidingpainfullyinherbrain。
Shemovedfeeblytothewindow，andtriedtodetectthecad"swhiteflannelsamongthelaurels。
"YouwerereadyenoughattheBertoliniwhenyourushedmeofftoRome。Can"tyouspeakagaintohimnow？"
"WillinglywouldImoveheavenandearth——"
"Iwantsomethingmoredefinite，"saidLucycontemptuously。"Willyouspeaktohim？Itistheleastyoucando，surely，consideringitallhappenedbecauseyoubrokeyourword。”
"NeveragainshallEleanorLavishbeafriendofmine。”
Really，Charlottewasoutdoingherself。
"Yesorno，please；yesorno。”
"Itisthekindofthingthatonlyagentlemancansettle。”
GeorgeEmersonwascomingupthegardenwithatennisballinhishand。
"Verywell，"saidLucy，withanangrygesture。"Noonewillhelpme。Iwillspeaktohimmyself。”Andimmediatelysherealizedthatthiswaswhathercousinhadintendedallalong。
"Hullo，Emerson!"calledFreddyfrombelow。"Foundthelostball？
Goodman!Wantanytea？"Andtherewasanirruptionfromthehouseontotheterrace。
"Oh，Lucy，butthatisbraveofyou!Iadmireyou——"
TheyhadgatheredroundGeorge，whobeckoned，shefelt，overtherubbish，thesloppythoughts，thefurtiveyearningsthatwerebeginningtocumberhersoul。Herangerfadedatthesightofhim。Ah!TheEmersonswerefinepeopleintheirway。Shehadtosubduearushinherbloodbeforesaying:
"Freddyhastakenhimintothedining-room。Theothersaregoingdownthegarden。Come。Letusgetthisoverquickly。Come。Iwantyouintheroom，ofcourse。”
"Lucy，doyouminddoingit？"
"Howcanyouasksucharidiculousquestion？"
"PoorLucy——"Shestretchedoutherhand。"IseemtobringnothingbutmisfortunewhereverIgo。”Lucynodded。SherememberedtheirlasteveningatFlorence——thepacking，thecandle，theshadowofMissBartlett"stoqueonthedoor。Shewasnottobetrappedbypathosasecondtime。Eludinghercousin"scaress，sheledthewaydownstairs。
"Trythejam，"Freddywassaying。"Thejam"sjollygood。”
George，lookingbiganddishevelled，waspacingupanddownthedining-room。Assheenteredhestopped，andsaid:
"No——nothingtoeat。”
"Yougodowntotheothers，"saidLucy；"CharlotteandIwillgiveMr。Emersonallhewants。Where"smother？"
"She"sstartedonherSundaywriting。She"sinthedrawing-room。”
"That"sallright。Yougoaway。”
Hewentoffsinging。
Lucysatdownatthetable。MissBartlett，whowasthoroughlyfrightened，tookupabookandpretendedtoread。
Shewouldnotbedrawnintoanelaboratespeech。Shejustsaid:
"Ican"thaveit，Mr。Emerson。Icannoteventalktoyou。Gooutofthishouse，andnevercomeintoitagainaslongasIlivehere——"flushingasshespokeandpointingtothedoor。"Ihatearow。Goplease。”
"What——"
"Nodiscussion。”
"ButIcan"t——"
Sheshookherhead。"Go，please。IdonotwanttocallinMr。
Vyse。”
"Youdon"tmean，"hesaid，absolutelyignoringMissBartlett——
"youdon"tmeanthatyouaregoingtomarrythatman？"
Thelinewasunexpected。
Sheshruggedhershoulders，asifhisvulgarityweariedher。"Youaremerelyridiculous，"shesaidquietly。
Thenhiswordsrosegravelyoverhers:"YoucannotlivewithVyse。He"sonlyforanacquaintance。Heisforsocietyandcultivatedtalk。Heshouldknownooneintimately，leastofallawoman。”
ItwasanewlightonCecil"scharacter。
"HaveyouevertalkedtoVysewithoutfeelingtired？"
"Icanscarcelydiscuss——"
"No，buthaveyouever？Heisthesortwhoareallrightsolongastheykeeptothings——books，pictures——butkillwhentheycometopeople。That"swhyI"llspeakoutthroughallthismuddleevennow。It"sshockingenoughtoloseyouinanycase，butgenerallyamanmustdenyhimselfjoy，andIwouldhaveheldbackifyourCecilhadbeenadifferentperson。Iwouldneverhaveletmyselfgo。ButIsawhimfirstintheNationalGallery，whenhewincedbecausemyfathermispronouncedthenamesofgreatpainters。Thenhebringsushere，andwefinditistoplaysomesillytrickonakindneighbour。Thatisthemanallover——playingtricksonpeople，onthemostsacredformoflifethathecanfind。Next，I
meetyoutogether，andfindhimprotectingandteachingyouandyourmothertobeshocked，whenitwasforYOUtosettlewhetheryouwereshockedorno。Cecilalloveragain。Hedaren"tletawomandecide。He"sthetypewho"skeptEuropebackforathousandyears。Everymomentofhislifehe"sformingyou，tellingyouwhat"scharmingoramusingorladylike，tellingyouwhatamanthinkswomanly；andyou，youofallwomen，listentohisvoiceinsteadoftoyourown。SoitwasattheRectory，whenImetyoubothagain；soithasbeenthewholeofthisafternoon。Therefore——not"thereforeIkissedyou，"becausethebookmademedothat，andIwishtogoodnessIhadmoreself-control。I"mnotashamed。
Idon"tapologize。Butithasfrightenedyou，andyoumaynothavenoticedthatIloveyou。Orwouldyouhavetoldmetogo，anddealtwithatremendousthingsolightly？Buttherefore——
thereforeIsettledtofighthim。”
Lucythoughtofaverygoodremark。
"YousayMr。Vysewantsmetolistentohim，Mr。Emerson。Pardonmeforsuggestingthatyouhavecaughtthehabit。”
Andhetooktheshoddyreproofandtoucheditintoimmortality。
Hesaid:
"Yes，Ihave，"andsankdownasifsuddenlyweary。"I"mthesamekindofbruteatbottom。Thisdesiretogovernawoman——itliesverydeep，andmenandwomenmustfightittogetherbeforetheyshallenterthegarden。ButIdoloveyousurelyinabetterwaythanhedoes。”Hethought。"Yes——reallyinabetterway。IwantyoutohaveyourownthoughtsevenwhenIholdyouinmyarms，"
Hestretchedthemtowardsher。"Lucy，bequick——there"snotimeforustotalknow——cometomeasyoucameinthespring，andafterwardsIwillbegentleandexplain。Ihavecaredforyousincethatmandied。Icannotlivewithoutyou，"Nogood，"I
thought；"sheismarryingsomeoneelse"；butImeetyouagainwhenalltheworldisgloriouswaterandsun。AsyoucamethroughthewoodIsawthatnothingelsemattered。Icalled。Iwantedtoliveandhavemychanceofjoy。”
"AndMr。Vyse？"saidLucy，whokeptcommendablycalm。"Doeshenotmatter？ThatIloveCecilandshallbehiswifeshortly？A
detailofnoimportance，Isuppose？"
Buthestretchedhisarmsoverthetabletowardsher。
"MayIaskwhatyouintendtogainbythisexhibition？"
Hesaid:"Itisourlastchance。IshalldoallthatIcan。”Andasifhehaddoneallelse，heturnedtoMissBartlett，whosatlikesomeportentagainsttheskiesoftheevening。"Youwouldn"tstopusthissecondtimeifyouunderstood，"hesaid。"Ihavebeenintothedark，andIamgoingbackintoit，unlessyouwilltrytounderstand。”
Herlong，narrowheaddrovebackwardsandforwards，asthoughdemolishingsomeinvisibleobstacle。Shedidnotanswer。
"Itisbeingyoung，"hesaidquietly，pickinguphisracquetfromthefloorandpreparingtogo。"ItisbeingcertainthatLucycaresformereally。Itisthatloveandyouthmatterintellectually。”
Insilencethetwowomenwatchedhim。Hislastremark，theyknew，wasnonsense，butwashegoingafteritornot？Wouldnothe，thecad，thecharlatan，attemptamoredramaticfinish？No。Hewasapparentlycontent。Heleftthem，carefullyclosingthefrontdoor；andwhentheylookedthroughthehallwindow，theysawhimgoupthedriveandbegintoclimbtheslopesofwitheredfernbehindthehouse。Theirtongueswereloosed，andtheyburstintostealthyrejoicings。
"Oh，Lucia——comebackhere——oh，whatanawfulman!"
Lucyhadnoreaction——atleast，notyet。"Well，heamusesme，"
shesaid。"EitherI"mmad，orelseheis，andI"minclinedtothinkit"sthelatter。Onemorefussthroughwithyou，Charlotte。
Manythanks。Ithink，though，thatthisisthelast。Myadmirerwillhardlytroublemeagain。”
AndMissBartlett，too，essayedtheroguish:
"Well，itisn"teveryonewhocouldboastsuchaconquest，dearest，isit？Oh，oneoughtn"ttolaugh，really。Itmighthavebeenveryserious。Butyouweresosensibleandbrave——sounlikethegirlsofmyday。”
"Let"sgodowntothem。”
But，onceintheopenair，shepaused。Someemotion——pity，terror，love，buttheemotionwasstrong——seizedher，andshewasawareofautumn。Summerwasending，andtheeveningbroughtherodoursofdecay，themorepatheticbecausetheywerereminiscentofspring。Thatsomethingorothermatteredintellectually？A
leaf，violentlyagitated，dancedpasther，whileotherleaveslaymotionless。Thattheearthwashasteningtore-enterdarkness，andtheshadowsofthosetreesoverWindyCorner？
"Hullo，Lucy!There"sstilllightenoughforanotherset，ifyoutwo"llhurry。”
"Mr。Emersonhashadtogo。”
"Whatanuisance!Thatspoilsthefour。Isay，Cecil，doplay，do，there"sagoodchap。It"sFloyd"slastday。Doplaytenniswithus，justthisonce。”
Cecil"svoicecame:"MydearFreddy，Iamnoathlete。Asyouwellremarkedthisverymorning，"Therearesomechapswhoarenogoodforanythingbutbooks"；Ipleadguiltytobeingsuchachap，andwillnotinflictmyselfonyou。”
ThescalesfellfromLucy"seyes。HowhadshestoodCecilforamoment？Hewasabsolutelyintolerable，andthesameeveningshebrokeoffherengagement。
ChapterXVII:LyingtoCecilHewasbewildered。Hehadnothingtosay。Hewasnotevenangry，butstood，withaglassofwhiskeybetweenhishands，tryingtothinkwhathadledhertosuchaconclusion。
Shehadchosenthemomentbeforebed，when，inaccordancewiththeirbourgeoishabit，shealwaysdispenseddrinkstothemen。
FreddyandMr。Floydweresuretoretirewiththeirglasses，whileCecilinvariablylingered，sippingathiswhileshelockedupthesideboard。
"Iamverysorryaboutit，"shesaid；"Ihavecarefullythoughtthingsover。Wearetoodifferent。Imustaskyoutoreleaseme，andtrytoforgetthatthereeverwassuchafoolishgirl。”
Itwasasuitablespeech，butshewasmoreangrythansorry，andhervoiceshowedit。
"Different——how——how——"
"Ihaven"thadareallygoodeducation，foronething，"shecontinued，stillonherkneesbythesideboard。"MyItaliantripcametoolate，andIamforgettingallthatIlearntthere。I
shallneverbeabletotalktoyourfriends，orbehaveasawifeofyoursshould。”
"Idon"tunderstandyou。Youaren"tlikeyourself。You"retired，Lucy。”
"Tired!"sheretorted，kindlingatonce。"Thatisexactlylikeyou。Youalwaysthinkwomendon"tmeanwhattheysay。”
"Well，yousoundtired，asifsomethinghasworriedyou。”