A Room With a View: Complexities of Love and Society in Early Florence

A Room With a View chapter one The bertolini the Senora had no business to do it said Miss Bartlett no business at

all she promised a South rooms with a view close together instead of which here are North rooms looking into a

courtyard and a long way apart oh Lucy and a cockney besides said Lucy who

had been further saddened by the Senora's unexpected accent it might be

London she looked at the two rows of English people who were sitting at the table at the row of white bottles of

water and red bottles of wine that ran between the English people at the portraits of the late queen and the late

poet laurate that hung behind the English people heavily framed at the notice of the English church Reverend

cuthber eager M A Oxon that was the only other decoration of the wall Charlotte don't you feel too that we might be in

London I can hardly believe that all kinds of other things are just

outside I suppose it is one's being so tired this meat has surely been used for Soup said Miss Bartlett laying down her

fork I want so to see the Arno the rooms the Senora promised us in her letter would have looked over the Arno the

Senora had no business to do it at all oh it is a shame any Nook does for me Miss Bartlett continued but it does

seem hard that you shouldn't have a view Lucy felt that she had been selfish Charlotte you mustn't spoil me

of course you must look over the Arno too I meant that the first vacant room in the front you must have it said Miss

Bartlett part of whose traveling expenses were paid by Lucy's mother a piece of generosity to which she made

many a tactful illusion no no you must have it I insist on it your mother would never forgive me

Lucy she would never forgive me the lady's voices grew animated and if the sad truth be owned a little

peevish they were tired and under the guise of unselfishness they wrangled some of their neighbors

interchanged glances and one of them one of the ill-bred people whom one does meet abroad lent forward over the table

and actually intruded into their argument he said I have a view I have a view Miss Bartlett was

startled generally at a pension people looked them over for a day or two before speaking and often did not find out that

they would do till they had gone she knew that the Intruder was Ill bred even before she glanced at him he was an

Oldman of heavy build with a fair shaven face and large eyes there was something childish in those eyes though it was not

the childishness of senility what exactly it was Miss Bartlett did not stop to consider for

her glance passed onto his clothes these did not attract her he was probably trying to become acquainted

with them before they got into the swim so she assumed a dazed expression when he spoke to her and then said of you oh

a view how delightful a view is this is my son said the old man his name's

George he has a view too ah said Miss Bartlett repressing Lucy who was about to

speak what I mean he continued is that you can have our rooms and we'll have yours we'll

change the better class of tourists was shocked at this and sympathized with the newcomers Miss Bartlett in reply opened

her mouth as little as possible and said said thank you very much indeed that is out of the

question why said the old man with both fists on the table because it is quite out of the

question thank you you see we don't like to take began Lucy her cousin again repressed her but

why he persisted women like looking at a view men don't and he thumped with his fists

like a naughty child and turned to his son saying George persuade them it's so obvious they should have the rooms said

the son there's nothing else to say he did not look at the ladies as he spoke but his voice was perplexed and

sorrowful Lucy too was perplexed but she saw that they were in for what is known as quite a scene and she had an odd

feeling that whenever these ill-bred tourists spoke the contest widened and deep until it dealt not with rooms and

Views but with well with something quite different whose existence she had not realized

before now the old man attacked Miss Bartlett almost violently why should she not

change what possible objection had she they would clear out in half an hour Miss Bartlett though skilled in the

Delicacies of conversation was powerless in the presence of brutality it was impossible to snub

anyone so gross her face rened with displeasure she looked around as much as to say are

you all like this and two little old ladies who were sitting further up the table with Shaws hanging over the backs

of the chairs looked back clearly indicating we are not we are Gentile eat your dinner dear she said to

Lucy and began to toy again with the meat that she had once censured Lucy mumbled that those seemed

very odd people opposite eat your dinner dear this pension is a

failure tomorrow we will make a change hardly had she announced this fell decision when she reversed it the

curtains at the end of the room parted and revealed a clergyman Stout but attractive who hurried forward to take

his place at the table cheerfully apologizing for his lateness Lucy who had not yet acquired

decency at once Rose to her feet exclaiming oh oh why it's Mr

BB oh how perfectly lovely Oh Charlotte we must stop now however bad the rooms are oh miss

Bartlett said with more restraint how do you do Mr BB I expect that you have forgotten us

miss Bartlett and Miss honey Church who were at tumbridge Wells when you helped the Vicor of St Peters that very cold

Easter the clergyman who had the air of one on holiday did not remember the ladies quite as clearly as they

remembered him but he came forward pleasantly enough and accepted the chair into which he was beckoned by

Lucy I am so glad to see you said the girl who was in a state of spiritual starvation and would have been glad to

see the waiter if her cousin had permitted it just fancy how small the world is Summer Street too makes it so

specially funny Miss honey Church lives in the parish of Summer Street said Miss Bartlett filling up the Gap and she

happened to tell me in the course of conversation that you have just accepted the

living yes I heard from mother so last week she didn't know that I knew you at Tunbridge Wells but I wrote back at once

and I said Mr BB is quite right said the clergyman I move into the rectory at Summer Street next June I am lucky to be

appointed to such a Charming neighborhood oh how glad I am the name of our house is Wendy

Corner Mr BB bowed there is mother and me generally and my brother though it's not often we get him to CH the church is

rather far off I mean Lucy dearest let Mr BB eat his dinner I am eating it thank you and enjoying it he preferred

to talk to Lucy whose playing he remembered rather than to miss Bartlett who probably remembered his

sermons he asked the girl whether she knew Florence well and was informed at some length that she had never been

there before it is delightful to advise a newcomer and he was first in the

field don't neglect the country round his advice concluded the first fine afternoon drive

up to Fela and Round by Stig Nano or something of that sort no cried a voice from the top of the

table Mr BB you are wrong the first fine afternoon your ladies must go to pra that lady looks so clever whispered

Miss Bartlett to her cousin we are in luck and indeed a perfect torrent of information burst on them people told

them what to see when to see it how to stop the electric trams how to get rid of the Beggars how much to give for a

Vellum blot how much the place would grow upon on them the pension bertolini had decided almost enthusiastically that

they would do whichever way they looked kind lady smiled and shouted at them and above all Rose the voice of the clever

lady crying prto they must go to prau that place is too sweetly squalid

for words I love it I Revel in shaking off the traml of respectability as you know

the young man named George glanced at the clever lady and then returned moodily to his plate obviously he and

his father did not do Lucy in the midst of her success found time to wish they did it gave her no extra pleasure that

anyone should be left in the cold and when she Rose to go she turned back and gave the two Outsiders a nervous little

bow the father did not see it the son acknowledged it not by another bow but by raising his eyebrows and smile

smiling he seemed to be smiling across something she hastened after her cousin who had already disappeared through the

curtains curtains which smote one in the face and seemed heavy with more than cloth Beyond them stood the unreliable

Senora bowing good evening to her guests and supported by enry her little boy and Victor her daughter it made a curious

little scene this attempt of the Cockney to convey the grace and geniality of the South and even more Curious was the

drawing room which attempted to rival the solid comfort of a bloomsberry boarding house was this really

Italy miss Bartlett was already seated on a tightly stuffed armchair which had the color and the Contours of a

tomato she was talking to Mr BBE and as she spoke her long narrow head drove backwards and forwards slowly regularly

as though she were demolishing some invisible obstacle we are most grateful ful to you

she was saying the first evening means so much when you arrived we were in for a

peculiarly mois court dear he expressed his regret do you by any chance know the name of an old man

who sat opposite us at dinner Emerson is he a friend of yours we are friendly as one is in

pensions then I will say no more he pressed her very slightly lightly and she said

more I am as it were she concluded the chaperon of my young cousin Lucy and it would be a serious thing if I put her

under an obligation to people of whom we know nothing his manner was somewhat unfortunate I hope I acted for the best

you acted very naturally said he he seemed thoughtful and after a few moments added all the same I don't think

much harm would have come of accepting no harm of course but we could not be under an

obligation he is rather A peculiar man again he hesitated and then said gently I think he would not take advantage of

your acceptance nor expect you to show gratitude he has the Merit if it is one of saying exactly what he

means he has rooms he does not value and he thinks you would value them he no more thought of putting you under an

obligation than he thought of being polite it is so difficult at least I find it difficult to understand people

who speak the truth Lucy was pleased and said I was hoping that he was nice I do so always hope that people will be

nice I think he is nice and tiresome I differ from him on almost every point of any importance and so I

expect I may say I hope you will differ but his is a type one disagrees with rather than

deplores when he first came here he not unnaturally put people's backs up he has no tact and no manners I don't mean by

that that he has Bad Manners and he will not keep his opinions to himself we nearly complained about him

to our depressing Senora but I am glad to say we thought better of it am I to conclude said Miss Bartlett that he is a

socialist Mr BB accepted the convenient word not without a slight twitching of the lips and presumably he has brought

up his son to be a socialist too I hardly know George for he hasn't learned to talk yet he seems a nice

creature and I think he has brains of course he has all his father's mannerisms and it is quite possible that

he too may be a socialist oh you relieve me said Miss Bartlett so you think I ought to have

accepted the offer you feel I have been narrow-minded and

suspicious not at all he answered I never suggested that but ought I not to apologize at all events for my apparent

rudeness he replied with some irritation that it would be quite unnecessary and got up from his seat to go to the

smoking room was I a boore said Miss Bartlett as soon as he had disappeared why didn't you talk Lucy

he prefers young people I'm sure I do hope I haven't monopolized him I hope you would have him all the

evening as well as all dinner time he is nice exclaimed Lucy just what I

remember he seems to see good in everyone no one would take him for a clergyman my dear

Lucia well you know what I mean and you know how clergyman generally laugh Mr BB laughs just like an ordinary man funny

girl how you do remind me of your mother I wonder if she will approve of Mr BB I'm sure she will and so will

Freddy I think everyone at Wendy corner will approve it is the fashionable world I am used to tonbridge Wells where

we are all hopelessly behind the times yes said Lucy despondently there was a haze of disapproval in the

air but whether the disapproval was of herself or of Mr B or of the fashionable world at Windy corner or of the narrow

world at Tunbridge Wells she could not determine she tried to locate it but as usual she

blundered miss Bartlett sedulously denied disapproving of anyone and added I am afraid you are finding me a very

depressing companion and the girl again thought I must have been selfish or unkind I must

be more careful it is so dreadful for Charlotte being

poor fortunately one of the little old ladies who for some time had been smiling very benignly now approached and

asked if she might be allowed to sit where Mr BB had sat permission granted she began to chatter gently about Italy

the plunge it had been to come there the gratifying success of the plunge the Improvement in her sister's Health the

necessity of closing the bedroom windows at night and of thoroughly emptying the water bottles in the morning she handled

her subjects agreeably and they were perhaps more worthy of attention than the high discourse upon gels and Giblin

which was proceeding tempestuously at the other end of the room it was a real catastrophe not a mere episode that

evening of hers at Venice when she had found in her bedroom something that is one worse than a flea the one better

than something else but here you are as safe as in England Senora bertolini is so

English yet our rooms smell said poor Lucy we dread going to bed ah then you look into the court she

sighed if only Mr Emerson was more tful we were so sorry for you at dinner I think he was meaning to be kind

undoubtedly he was said Miss Bartlett Mr BB has just been scolding me for my suspicion

nature of course I was holding back on my cousin's account of course said the little old

lady and they murmured that one could not be too careful with a young girl Lucy tried to look demure but could not

help feeling a great fool no one was careful with her at home or at all events she had not noticed it

about old Mr Emerson I hardly know no he is not tactful yet have you ever noticed that there are people who do things

which are most indelicate and yet at the same time beautiful beautiful said Miss Bartlett

puzzled at the word are not Beauty and delicacy the same so one would have thought said the other

helplessly but things are so difficult I sometimes think she proceeded no further into things for Mr BB reappeared looking

extremely Pleasant Miss Bartlett he cried it's all right about the

rooms I'm so glad Mr Emerson was talking about it in the smoking room and knowing what I did I encouraged him to make the

offer again he has let me come and ask you he would be so pleased Oh Charlotte cried Lucy to her

cousin we must have the rooms now the old man is just as nice and kind as he can be Miss Bartlett was silent

I fear said Mr BBE after a pause that I have been officious I must apologize for my

interference Gravely displeased he turned to go not till then did Miss Bartlett reply my own wishes dearest

Lucy are unimportant in comparison with yours it would be hard indeed if I stopped you doing as you liked at

Florence when I am only here through your kindness if you wish me to turn these

gentlemen out of their rooms I will do it would you then Mr B kindly tell Mr Emerson that I accept his kind offer and

then conduct him to me in order that I may thank him personally she raised her voice as she

spoke it was heard all over the drawing room and silenced the gues and the gibin the clergyman inwardly cursing the

female sex bowed and departed with her message remember Lucy I alone am implicated in this

I do not wish the acceptance to come from you grant me that at all events Mr BB was back saying rather

nervously Mr Emerson is engaged but here is his son instead the young men gazed down on the

three ladies who felt Seated on the floor so low were their chairs my father he said is in his bath

so you cannot thank him personally but any message given by you to me will be given by me to him as soon

as he comes out Miss Bartlett was unequal to the bath all her Barbed civilities came forth wrong and

first young Mr Emerson scored a notable Triumph to the Delight of Mr BB and to the secret Delight of

Lucy poor young men said Miss Bartlett as soon as he had gone how angry he is with his father about the

rooms it is all he can do to keep polite in half an hour or so your rooms will be ready said Mr

B then looking rather thoughtfully at the Two Cousins he retired to his own rooms to write up his philosophic

diary oh dear breath the little old lady and shuddered as if all the Winds of Heaven had entered the

apartment gentlemen sometimes do not realize her voice faded away but miss Bartlett seemed to understand and a

conversation developed in which gentlemen who did not th early realize played a principal part Lucy not

realizing either was reduced to literature taking up Baker's handbook to Northern Italy she committed to memory

the most important dates of florentine history for she was determined to enjoy herself on the

tomorrow thus the half hour crept profitably away and at last Miss Bartlett rose with a sigh and

said I think one might venture now no Lucy do not stir I will superintend the move how you

do do everything said Lucy naturally dear it is my Affair but I would like to

help you no dear Charlotte's energy and her

unselfishness she had been thus all her life but really on this Italian tour she was surpassing

herself so Lucy felt or strove to feel and yet there was a rebellious spirit in her which wondered whether the

acceptance might not have been less delicate and More Beautiful at all events she entered her

own room without any feeling of Joy I want to explain said Miss Bartlett why it is that I have taken the largest

room naturally of course I should have given it to you but I happened to know that it belongs to the young men and I

was sure your mother would not like it Lucy was bewildered if you are to accept a favor

it is more suitable you should be under an obligation to his father than to him I am a woman of the world in my small

way and I know where things lead to however Mr BB is a guarantee of A Sort that they will not presume on this

mother wouldn't mind I'm sure said Lucy but again had the sense of larger and unsuspected

issues Miss Bartlett only sighed and enveloped Ed her in a protecting Embrace as she wished her good night it gave

Lucy the sensation of a fog and when she reached her own room she opened the window and breathed the clean night air

thinking of the kind old men who had enabled her to see the lights dancing in the Arno and the cypresses of s Minato

and the foothills of the appenines black Against The Rising Moon Miss Bartlett in her room fastened the window shutters

and locked the door and then made a tour of the apartment to see where the cupboards LED and whether there were any

oblates or secret entrances it was then that she saw pinned up over the washstand a sheet of

paper on which was scrolled an enormous note of interrogation nothing

more what does it mean she thought and she examined it carefully by the light of a

candle meaningless at first it gradually became menacing obnoxious portentous with evil she was seized with an Impulse

to destroy it but fortunately remembered that she had no right to do so since it must be the property of young Mr

Emerson so she unpinned it carefully and put it between two pieces of blotting paper to keep it clean for him then she

completed her inspection of the room sighed heavily according to her habit and went to

bed chapter 2 in Santa cochi with no Baker it was pleasant to wake up in Florence to Open the Eyes Upon a bright

bare room with a floor of red red tiles which look clean though they are not with a painted ceiling whereon pinkt

Griffins and blue amarini sport in a forest of yellow violins and bassoons it was pleasant too to fling

wide the windows pinching the fingers in unfamiliar fastenings to lean out into Sunshine with beautiful Hills and trees

and marble churches opposite and close below the Arno gurgling against the embankment of the road over the river

men were at work with Spades and sees on the Sandy foreshore and on the river was a boat also diligently employed for some

mysterious end an electric tram came rushing underneath the window no one was inside it except one

tourist but its platforms were overflowing with Italians who preferred to

stand children tried to hang on behind and the conductor With No Malice spat in their faces to make them let go then

soldiers appeared good-looking undersized men wearing each a knapsack covered with mangy fur and a great coat

which had been cut for some larger Soldier beside them walked officers looking foolish and Fierce and before

them went little boys turning somersaults in time with the band the tram car became entangled in their ranks

and moved on painfully like a caterpillar in a swarm of ants one of the little boys fell down and some white

Bullocks came out of an archway indeed if it had not been for the good advice of an old man who was

selling button hooks the road might never have got close clear over such trivialities as these many a valuable

Hour May slip away and the traveler who has gone to Italy to study the tactile values of Jato or the corruption of the

papacy May return remembering nothing but the blue sky and the men and women who live under it so it was as well that

Miss Bartlett should tap and come in and having commented on Lucy's leaving the door unlocked and on her leaning out of

the window before she was fully dressed should urge her to hasten herself or the best of the day would be gone by the

time Lucy was ready her cousin had done her breakfast and was listening to the clever lady among the crumbs a

conversation then ensued on not unfamiliar lines Miss Bartlett was after all a wee

bit tired and thought they had better spend the morning settling in unless Lucy would at all like to go out Lucy

would rather like to go out as it was her first day in Florence but of course she could go alone Miss Bartlett could

not allow this of course she would accompany Lucy everywhere oh certainly not Lucy would

stop with her cousin oh no that would never do oh yes at this point the clever lady broke in if it is Mrs Grundy who is

troubling you I do assure you that you can neglect the good person being English Miss honey church will be

perfectly safe Italians understand a dear friend of mine mine Contessa baronchelli has two daughters and when

she cannot send a mate to school with them she lets them go in Sailor hats instead everyone takes them for English

you see especially if their hair is strained tightly behind Miss Bartlett was unconvinced by

the safety of Contessa barelli's daughters she was determined to take Lucy herself her head not being so very

bad the clever lady then said that she was going to spend a long morning in Santa cochi and and if Lucy would come

too she would be delighted I will take you by a dear dirty back way Miss honey church and if

you bring me luck we shall have an adventure Lucy said that this was most kind and at once opened the baker to see

where Santa cochi was Tut Tut Miss Lucy I hope we shall soon emancipate you from

Baker he does but touch the surface of things as to the true Italy he 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 coochy senora and her Works

had vanished like a bad dream Miss lavish for that was the clever lady's name turned to the right along the sunny

lung Arno how delightfully warm but a wind down the side streets cut like a a knife

didn't it Ponte Alle graer particularly interesting mentioned by Dante sen Minato beautiful as well as

interesting the crucifix that kissed a murderer Miss honey Church 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 Floren 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 niess was the retort one comes for Life bjo bjo bowing right and left look at

that adorable wine cart how the driver stares at us dear simple Soul so miss lavish seeded 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 anyone so clever and so cheerful and a blue military cloak such as an Italian officer wears only

increased the sense of festivity w jno take the word of an old woman Miss Lucy you will never repent of

a little cility to your inferiors that is the true democracy though I am a real r 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 shameful a manufacturing District I

suppose no in the Sur Hills about 5 miles from Dorking looking over the wield 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 Otway a 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 sui hardly any said Lucy fearful of being thought a snob only 30 Acres just

the garden all down Hill and some Fields Miss lavish was not disgusted and said it was just the size of her aunt

suffk estate Italy receded they tried to remember the last name of Lady Louisa someone 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 cochi 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 diet tribes 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 cochi 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

Baker give it to me I sh let you carry it we will simply drift accordingly they drifted through a series of those gray

brown streets neither kod ious 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 anuna and saw in the living terracotta 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 Str Str to

drift into another Piaza 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 cochi 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 do 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 color box I must have a word with him and in a

moment she was away over the Piaza her military cloak flapping in the wind nor did she slack and speed till she caught

up an old man with white whiskers and nipped him playfully upon the arm Lucy waited for nearly 10 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 Piaza with the intention of rejoining Miss lavish who was really

almost too original but at that moment Miss lavish and her local color 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 Baker how could she find her way home how could she find her way about in

Santa cochi 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 Fresco by jotto 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 sepulcral

slabs that paved the Nave and trps was the one that was really beautiful the one that had been most praised by Mr

rusin then the pricious charm of Italy worked on her and instead of acquiring information she began to be happy she

puzzled out the Italian notices the notices that forbade people to introduce dogs into the church the notice that

prayed people in the interest of health and out of respect to the sacred edifice in which they found themselves not to

spit she watched the tourists their noses were as red as their Bakers so cold was Santa cochi she beheld the

horrible fate that overtook three papists two he babies and a she baby who began their career by sing each other

with the holy water and then proceeded to the Machiavelli Memorial dripping but hallowed advancing towards it very

slowly and from immense distances they touched the stone with their fingers with their handkerchiefs with their

heads and then retreated what could this mean they did it again and again then Lucy

realized that they had mistaken Machiavelli for some Saint hoping to acquire virtue punishment followed

quickly the smallest he baby stumbled over one of the sepulchral slabs so much admired by Mr Ruskin and entangled his

feet in the features of a recumbent Bishop Protestant as she was Lucy darted forward she was too late he fell heavily

upon the prets up turn toes hateful Bishop exclaimed the voice of old Mr Emerson who had darted forward

also hard in life hard in death go out into the sunshine little boy and kiss your hand to the Sun for that is where

you ought to be intolerable Bishop the child screamed frantically at these words and at these Dreadful people who

picked him up dusted him rubbed his bruises and told him not to be superstitious look at him said Mr

Emerson to Lucy here's a mess a baby hurt cold and frightened but what else can you expect

from a church the child's legs had become as melting wax each time that old Mr Emerson and

Lucy said it erected collapsed with a roar fortunately an Italian lady who ought to have been saying her prayers

came to the Rescue by some mysterious virtue which mothers alone possess she stiffened the little boy's backbone and

imparted strength to his knes he stood still gibbering with agitation he walked away you are a clever woman

said Mr Emerson you have done more than all the relics in the world I am not of your Creed but I do believe in those who

make their fellow creatures happy there is no scheme of the universe he paused for a phrase nente

said the Italian lady and returned to her prayers I'm not sure she understands

English suggested Lucy in her chasen mood she no longer despised the emersons she was determined to be

gracious to them beautiful rather than delicate and if possible to erase Miss Bartlett's civility by some gracious

reference to the pleasant rooms that woman understands everything was Mr Emerson's reply but what are you

doing here are you doing the church are you through with the church no cried Lucy remembering her

grievance I came here with Miss lavish who was to explain everything and just by the door it is too bad she simply ran

away and after waiting quite a time I had to come in by myself why shouldn't you said Mr

Emerson yes why shouldn't you come by yourself said the son addressing the young lady for the first time but miss

lavish has even taken away Baker baker said Mr Emerson I'm glad it's that you minded It's Worth

minding the loss of a baker that's worth minding Lucy was puzzled she was again conscious of some

new idea and was not sure whether it would lead her if you've no baker said the son you better join us was this

where the idea would lead she took refuge in her dignity thank you very much but I could

not think of that I hope you do not suppose that I came to join on to you I really came to help with the child and

to thank you for so kindly giving us your rooms last night I hope that you have not been put to any great

inconvenience my dear said the Oldman gently I think that you are repeating what you have heard older people say you

are pretending to be touchy but you are not really stop being so tiresome and tell me instead what part of the church

you want to see to take you to it will be a real pleasure now this was abominably impertinent and

she ought to have been Furious but it is sometimes as difficult to lose one's temper as it is difficult

at other times to keep it Lucy could not get cross Mr Emerson was an old man and surely a girl might humor him on the

other hand his son was a young man and she felt that a girl ought to be offended with him or at all events be

offended before him it was at him that she gazed before replying I am not touchy I hope it is the jotos

that I want to see if you will kindly tell me which they are the son nodded with a look of somber satisfaction he

led the way to the perzi chapel there was a hint of the teacher about him she felt like a child in school who had

answered a question rightly the chapel was already filled with an Earnest congregation and out of them Rose the

voice of a lecturer directing them how to worship Jad not by tactful valuations but by the standards of the spirit

remember he was saying the facts about this church of Santa cochi how it was built by faith in the full fervor of

medievalism before any taint of the Renaissance had appeared observe how joto in these frescos now unhappily

ruined by restoration is untroubled by the snares of anatomy and perspective could anything be more

Majestic more pathetic beautiful true how little we feel avails knowledge and Technical cleverness against a man who

truly feels no exclaimed Mr Emerson in much too loud a voice for church remember

nothing of the sort built by faith indeed that simply means the workmen weren't paid properly and as for the

frescos I see no truth in them look at that fat men in blue he must weigh as much as I do and he is shooting into the

sky like an air balloon he was referring to the Fresco of the Ascension of St John inside the lecturer's voice

faltered as well it might the audience shifted uneasily and so did Lucy she was sure that she ought not to be with these

men but they had cast a spell over her they were so serious and so strange that she could not remember how to

behave now did this happen or didn't it Yes or No George replied it happened like this if it

happened at all I would rather go up to heaven by myself and be pushed by cherubs and if I got there I should like

my friends to lean out of it just as they do here you will never go up said his father you and I Dear Boy will lie

at peace in the earth that bore us and our names will disappear as surely as our work

survives some of the people can only see the empty grave not the saint whoever he is going up it did happen like that that

if it happened at all pardon me said a frigid voice the chapel is somewhat small for two parties we will incommode

you no longer the lecturer was a clergyman and his audience must be also his flock for they held per books as

well as guide books in their hands they filed out of the chapel in silence amongst them were the two little

old ladies of the pension berini Miss Teresa and Miss Katherine Allen stop cried Mr Emerson there's plenty of room

for us all stop the procession disappeared without a word soon the lecturer could be heard in the next

Chapel describing the life of St Francis George I do believe that clergyman is the brickton curate George

went into the next chapel and returned saying perhaps he is I don't remember then I had better speak to him

and remind him who I am it's that Mr eager why did he go did we talk too loud how

vexatious I shall go and say we are sorry hadn't I better then perhaps he will come back he will not come back

said George but Mr Emerson contrite and unhappy hurried away to apologize to the

Reverend cuthber eager Lucy apparently absorbed in a Lunette could hear the lecture again interrupted the the

anxious aggressive voice of the old men the Curt injured replies of his opponent the son who took every little conton as

if it were a tragedy was listening also my father has that effect on nearly everyone he informed her he will try to

be kind I hope we all try said she smiling nervously because we think it improves

our characters but he is kind to people because he loves them and they find him

out and are offended or frightened how silly of them said Lucy though in her heart she sympathized I

think that a kind action done tactfully tacked he threw up his head in disdain apparently she had given the

wrong answer she watched the singular creature Pace up and down the chapel for a young man his face was rugged and

until the Shadows fell upon it hard and shadowed it sprang into tenderness she saw him once again at

Rome on the ceiling of the cinee chapel carrying a burden of acorns healthy and muscular he yet gave

her the feeling of greyness of tragedy that might only find solution in the night the feeling soon passed it was

unlike her to have entertained anything so subtle born of silence and of unknown emotion it passed when Mr Emerson

returned and she could reenter the world of Rapid talk which was alone familiar to her were you snubbed asked his son

tranquil but we have spoiled the pleasure of I don't know how many people they won't come back full of innate

sympathy quickness to perceive good in others vision of the Brotherhood of men scraps of the lecture on St Francis came

floating round the partition wall don't let us spoil yours he continued to Lucy have you looked at those

Saints yes said Lucy they are lovely do you know which is the tombstone that that is praised in

Ruskin he did not know and suggested that they should try to guess it George rather to her relief refused to move and

she and the old men wandered not unpleasantly about Santa cochi which though it is like a barn has harvested

many beautiful things inside its walls there were also Beggars to avoid and guides to dodge round the pillars

and an old lady with her dog and here and there a priest modestly edging to his Mass through the groups of tourists

but but Mr Emerson was only half interested he watched the lecturer whose success he believed he had impaired and

then he anxiously watched his son why will he look at that Fresco he said uneasily I saw nothing in it I like jot

she replied it is so wonderful what they say about his tactial

values though I like things like the Dela Robia baby's better so you ought a baby is worth a dozen Saints

and my baby's worth the whole of paradise and as far as I can see he lives in Hell Lucy again felt that this

did not do in hell he repeated HEK unhappy oh dear said

Lucy how can he be unhappy when he is strong and Alive what more is one to give him and think how he has been

brought up free from all the Superstition and ignorance that lead men to hate one another in the name of God

with such an education as that I thought he was bound to grow up happy she was no Theologian but she felt that here was a

very foolish Oldman as well as a very irreligious one she also felt that her mother might not like her talking to

that kind of person and that Charlotte would object most strongly what are we to do with him he asked he comes out for

his holiday to Italy and behaves like that like the little child who ought to have been playing and who h himself upon

the tombstone eh what did you say Lucy had made no

suggestion suddenly he said now don't be stupid over this I don't require you to fall in love with my boy but I do think

you might try and understand him you are nearer his age and if you let yourself go I am sure you are

sensible you might help me he has known so few women and you have the time you you stop here several weeks I

suppose but Let Yourself Go you are inclined to get muddled if I may judge from last night let yourself go pull out

from the depths those thoughts that you do not understand and spread them out in the sunlight and know the meaning of

them by understanding George you may learn to understand yourself it will be good for both of you

to this extraordinary speech Lucy found no answer I only know what it is that's wrong with him not why it is and what is

it asked Lucy fearfully expecting some harrowing Tale the old trouble things won't fit what things the things of the

universe it is quite true they don't oh Mr Emerson whatever do you mean in his ordinary voice so that she scarcely

realized he was quoting poetry he said from far from even morning and Yan 12- winded Sky the stuff of life to knit me

blue hither here am I George and I both know this but why does it distress him we know that we come from the winds and

that we shall return to them that all life is perhaps a knot a tangle a blemish in the Eternal

smoothness but why should this make us unhappy let us rather love one another and work and

rejoice I don't believe in this World sorrow Miss honey church ascented then make my boy Think Like Us make him

realize that by the side of the Everlasting why there is a yes A transitory yes if you like but a yes

suddenly she laughed surely one ought to laugh a young man Melancholy because the universe wouldn't fit because life was a

tangle or a wind or a yes or something I'm very sorry she cried you'll think me unfeeling but but but then she became

matronly oh but your son wants employment has he no particular hobby why I myself have worries but I

can generally forget them at the piano and collecting stamps did no end of good for my brother perhaps Italy bores him

you ought to try the Alps or the Lakes the old man's face saddened and he touched her gently with his hand this

did not alarm her she thought that her advice had impressed him and that he was than thanking her for it indeed he no

longer alarmed her at all she regarded him as a kind thing but quite silly her feelings were as inflated spiritually as

they had been an hour ago aesthetically before she lost Baker the Dear George now striding

towards them over the Tombstones seemed both pitiable and absurd he approached his face in the shadow he said Miss

Bartlett oh good gracious me said Luc suddenly collapsing and again seeing the whole of Life In A New

Perspective where where in the Nave I see those gossiping Little Miss Allens must have she checked

herself poor girl exploded Mr Emerson poor girl she could not let this pass for it was just what she was

feeling herself poor girl I failed to understand the point of that remark

I think myself a very fortunate girl I assure you I'm thoroughly happy and having a splendid time pray don't waste

time mourning over me there's enough sorrow in the world isn't there without trying to invent it

goodbye thank you both so much for all your kindness ah yes there does come my

cousin a delightful morning Santa cochi is a wonderful Church she joined her cousin it so happened

that Lucy who found daily life rather chaotic entered a more solid world when she opened the piano she was then no

longer either differential or patronizing no longer either a rebel or a slave the kingdom of music is not the

kingdom of this world it will accept Those whom breeding and intellect and culture have alike rejected the

commonplace person begins to play and shoots in into the emperion without effort whilst we look up marveling how

he has escaped us and thinking how we could worship Him and love him would he but translate his Visions into human

words and his experiences into human actions perhaps he cannot certainly he does not or does so very seldom Lucy had

done so never she was no dazzling executive her runs were not at all like strings of pearls and she struck no more

right notes than was suitable for one of her age and situation nor was she the passionate young lady who performed so

tragically on a summer's evening with the window open passion was there but it could not be easily labeled it slipped

between love and hatred and jealousy and all the furniture of the pictorial style and she was tragical only in the sense

that she was great for she loved to play on the side of victory victory of what and over what that is more than the

words of daily life can tell us but that some sonatas of Beethoven are written tragic no one can gain say yet they can

Triumph or despair as the player decides and Lucy had decided that they should Triumph a very wet afternoon at the

bertolini permitted her to do the thing she really liked and after lunch she opened the little draped piano a few

people lingered round and praised her playing but finding that she made no reply

dispersed to their rooms to write up their Diaries or to sleep she took no notice of Mr Emison looking for his son

nor of Miss Bartlett looking for Miss lavish nor of Miss lavish looking for her cigarette case like every true

performer she was Intoxicated by the mere feel of the notes they were fingers caressing her own and by touch not by

sound alone did she come to her desire Mr BBE sitting unnoticed in the window pondered this illogical element in Miss

honey church and recalled the occasion at tonbridge Wells when he had discovered it it was at one of those

entertainments where the upper classes entertain the lower the seats were filled with a respectful audience and

the ladies and gentlemen of the parish under the offices of their vicer sang or recited or imitated the drawing of a

champagne cork among the promised items was Miss honey Church piano Beethoven and Mr BB was wondering whether it would

be Adela or the march of the ruins of Athens when his composure was disturbed by the opening bars of Opus 3 he was in

suspense all through the introduction for not until the pace quickens does one know what the performer intends with the

Roar of the opening theme he knew that things were going extraordinary arily in the chords that Herald the conclusion he

heard the hammer Strokes of Victory he was glad that she only played the first movement for he could have paid no

attention to the winding intricacies of the measures of 9916 the audience clapped no less

respectful it was Mr BB who started the stamping it was all that one could do who is she he asked the vicer afterwards

cousin of one of my parishioners I do not consider her choice of a peace happy Beethoven is so usually simple and

Direct in his appeal that it is sheer perversity to choose a thing like that which if anything disturbs introduce me

she will be delighted she and Miss Bartlett are full of the Praises of your sermon my sermon cried Mr BBE why ever

did she listen to it when he was introduced he understood why for Miss honey Church disjoined from her music

stool was only a young lady with a quantity of dark hair and a very pretty pale undeveloped face she loved going to

concerts she loved stopping with her cousin she loved iced coffee and merang he did not doubt that she loved his

sermon also but before he left Tunbridge Wells he made a remark to to the vicer which he now made to Lucy herself when

she closed the little piano and moved dreamily towards him if Miss honey church ever takes to live as she plays

it will be very exciting both for us and for her Lucy at once re-entered daily life oh what a funny thing someone said

just the same to mother and she said she trusted I should never live a duet doesn't Mrs honey chur like music she

doesn't mind it but she doesn't like one to get excited over anything she thinks I'm silly about it she thinks I can't

make out once you know I said that I liked my own playing better than anyone's she has never got over it of

course I didn't mean that I played well I only meant of course said he wondering why

she bothered to explain music said Lucy as if attempting some generality she could not complet it and looked out

absently upon Italy in the wet the whole life of the South was disorganized and the most graceful

n e e what is it about it will be a novel

replied Mr BB dealing with modern Italy let me refer you for an account to Miss Katherine Allen who uses words herself

more admirably than anyone I know I wish Miss lavish would tell me herself we started such friends but I don't think

she ought to have run away with Baker that morning in Santa cochi Charlotte was most annoyed at finding me

practically alone and so I couldn't help being a little annoyed with Miss lavish the two ladies

at all events have made it up he was interested in the sudden friendship between women so apparently disimilar as

Miss Bartlett and Miss lavish they were always in each other's company with Lucy a slighted third Miss lavish he believed

he understood but miss Bartlett might reveal unknown depths of strangeness though not perhaps of meaning was Italy

deflecting her from the path of Prim chaperon which he had assigned to her at tonbridge Wells all his life he had

loved to study Maiden ladies they were his specialty and his profession had provided him with ample opportunities

for the work girls like Lucy were Charming to look at but Mr BB was from rather profound reasons somewhat chilly

in his attitude towards the other sex and preferred to be interested rather than enthralled Lucy for the third time

said that that poor Charlotte would be spped the ano was rising in flood washing away the traces of the little

carts upon the foreshore but in the southwest there had appeared a dull Haze of yellow which might mean better

whether if it did not mean worse she opened the window to inspect and a cold blast entered the room drawing a

plaintive cry from miss Catherine Allen who entered at the same moment by the door oh dear honey Church you will catch

a chill and Mr BB here besides who would suppose this is Italy there is my sister actually nursing the hot water can no

Comforts or proper Provisions she sidled towards them and sat down self-conscious as she always

was on entering a room which contained one man or a man and one woman I could hear your beautiful playing Miss honey

Church the though I was in my room with a door shut door shut indeed most necessary no one has the least idea of

privacy in this country and one person catches it from another Lucy answered suitably Mr BB was not able to tell the

ladies of his Adventure at Medina where the chambermaid burst in upon him in his bath exclaiming cheerfully e yente

sonova he contented himself with saying I quite agree with you Miss Allen the Italians

are a most unpleasant people they pry everywhere they see everything and they know what we want before we know it

ourselves we are at their Mercy they read our thoughts they foretell our desires from the cab driver down to to

Jato they turn us inside out and I resent it yet in their heart of hearts they are how superficial they have no

conception of the intellectual life how right is Senora bertolini who exclaimed to me the other day ho Mr BBE if you

knew what I suffer over the children's education I won't a my little Victor here taught by a ignorant Italian what

can't explain nothing Miss Allen did not follow but gathered that she was being mocked in agreeable way her sister was a

little disappointed in Mr BBE having expected better things from a clergyman whose head was bald and who wore a pair

of russet whiskers indeed who would have supposed that tolerance sympathy and a sense of humor would inhabit that

militant form in the midst of her satisfaction she continued to Sidle and at last the cause was disclosed from the

chair beneath her she extracted a gunmetal sign cigarette case on which were powdered in turquoise the initials

E L that belongs to Lavish said the clergyman a good fellow lavish but I wish she'd start a pipe oh Mr BB said

Miss Allen divided between awe and mirth indeed though it is dreadful for her to smoke it is not quite as Dreadful as you

suppose she took to it practically in despair after her life's work was carried away in a land slip surely that

makes it more excusable what was that asked Lucy Mr BB sat back complacently and Miss Allen began as follows it was a

novel and I am afraid from what I can gather not a very nice novel it is so sad when people who have abilities

misuse them and I must say they nearly always do anyhow she left it almost finished in The Grotto of the calvary at

the capuccini hotel at a malfi while she went for a little ink she said can I have a little ink please but you know

what Italians are and meanwhile The Grotto fell roaring on to the beach and the saddest thing of all is that she

cannot remember what she has written the poor thing was very ill after it and so got tempted into cigarettes it is a

great secret but I am glad to say that she is writing another novel she told Teresa and Miss pole the other day that

she had got up all the local color this novel is to be about modern Italy the other was historical but that she could

not start till she had an idea first she tried peruja for an inspiration then she came here this must on no account get

round and so cheerful through it all I cannot help thinking that there is something to admire in everyone one even

if you do not approve of them Miss Allen was always thus being charitable against her better judgment a delicate pathos

perfumed her disconnected remarks giving them unexpected Beauty just as in the decaying Autumn Woods there sometimes

rise odors reminiscent of spring she felt she had made almost too many allowances and apologized hurridly for

her Toleration all the same she is a little too I hardly like to say unwomanly but she behaved most strangely

when the emersons arrived Mr BB smiled as Miss Allen plunged into an

e e e our dear Queen it was horrible speaking

I reminded her how the queen had been to Ireland when she did not want to go and I must say she was dumbfounded and made

no reply but unluckily Mr Emerson overheard this part and called in his deep voice quite so quite so I honor the

woman for her Irish visit the woman I tell things so badly but you see what a tangle we were in by this time all on

account of s having been mentioned in the first place but that was not all after dinner Miss lavish actually came

up and said Miss Allan I am going into the smoking room to talk to those two nice men come too needless to say I

refused such an unsuitable invitation and she had the impertinence to tell me that it would broaden my ideas and said

that she had four brothers all University men except one who was in the Army who always made a point of

talking to commercial Travelers let me finish the story said Mr BBE who had returned Miss lavish tried Miss pole

myself everyone and finally said I shall go alone she went at the end of 5 minutes she returned unobtrusively with

a green Baye board and began playing patience whatever ever happened cried Lucy no one knows no one will ever know

Miss lavish will never dare to tell and Mr Emerson does not think it worth telling Mr BBE old Mr Emerson is he nice

or not nice I do so want to know Mr BB laughed and suggested that she should settle the question for herself no but

it is so difficult sometimes he is so silly and then I do not mind him Miss Allan what do you think is he nice the

little old lady shook her head and sighed disapprovingly Mr BB whom the

conversation amused stirred her up by saying I consider that you are bound to class him as nice Miss Allen after that

business of the violets violets oh dear who told you about the violets how do things get round a pension is a bad

place for gossips no I cannot forget how they behaved at Mr eager's lecture at Santa cochi oh poor Miss honey Church it

really was too bad no I have quite changed I do not like the emersons they are not nice Mr BB smiled

nonchalantly he had made a gentle effort to introduce the emersons into bertolini society and the effort had failed he was

almost the only person who remained friendly to them Miss lavish who represented intellect was avowedly

hostile and now the Miss Allens who stood for good breeding were following her Miss Bartlett smarting under an

obligation would scarcely be civil the case of Lucy was different she had given him a hazy account of her adventures in

Santa cochi and he gathered that the two men had made a curious and possibly concerted attempt to Annex her to show