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much in earnest； while he fanned her； and his earnestness amused her as
much as the American's irony。 He asked which city of America she came
from； and when she said none； he asked which part of America。 She
answered New England； and he said； 〃Oh； yes； that is where they have the
conscience。〃 She did not know what he meant； and he put before her the
ideal of New England girlhood which he had evolved from reading American
novels。 〃Are you like that？〃 he demanded。
She laughed； and said； 〃Not a bit；〃 and asked him if he had ever met such
an American girl； and he said； frankly； No； the American girls were all
mercenary； and cared for nothing but money； or marrying titles。 He added
that he had a title； but he would not wear it。
Clementina said she did not believe she cared for titles； and then he
said； 〃But you care for money。〃 She denied it； but as if she had
confessed it； he went on： 〃The only American that I have seen with that
conscience was a man。 I will tell you of him； if you wish。〃
He did not wait for her answer。 〃It was in Naplesat Pompeii。 I saw at
the first glance that he was different from other Americans； and I
resolved to know him。 He was there in company with a stupid boy； whose
tutor he was； and he told me that he was studying to be a minister of the
Protestant church。 Next year he will go home to be consecrated。 He
promised to pass through Florence in the spring； and he will keep his
word。 Every act； every word； every thought of his is regulated by
conscience。 It is terrible； but it is beautiful。〃 All the time； the
Russian was fanning Clementina； with every outward appearance of
flirtation。 〃Will you dance again？ No？ I should like to draw such a
character as his in a romance。〃
XXII。
It was six o'clock in the morning before Miss Milray sent Clementina home
in her carriage。 She would have kept her to breakfast； but Clementina
said she ought to go on Mrs。 Lander's account； and she wished to go on
her own。
She thought she would steal to bed without waking her； but she was
stopped by the sound of groans when she entered their apartment； the
light gushed from Mrs。 Lander's door。 Maddalena came out； and blessed
the name of her Latin deity （so much more familiar and approachable than
the Anglo…Saxon divinity） that Clementina had come at last； and poured
upon her the story of a night of suffering for Mrs。 Lander。 Through her
story came the sound of Mrs。 Lander's voice plaintively reproachful；
summoning Clementina to her bedside。 〃Oh； how could you go away and
leave me？ I've been in such misery the whole night long； and the docta
didn't do a thing for me。 I'm puffectly wohn out； and I couldn't make my
wants known with that Italian crazy…head。 If it hadn't been for the
portyary comin' in and interpretin'； when the docta left； I don't know
what I should have done。 I want you should give him a twenty…leary note
just as quick as you see him； and oh； isn't the docta comin'？〃
Clementina set about helping Maddalena put the room； which was in an
impassioned disorder； to rights； and she made Mrs。 Lander a cup of her
own tea； which she had brought from S。 S。 Pierces in passing through
Boston； it was the first thing； the sufferer said； that had saved her
life。 Clementina comforted her； and promised her that the doctor should
be there very soon； and before Mrs。 Lander fell away to sleep； she was so
far out of danger as to be able to ask how Clementina had enjoyed
herself； and to be glad that she had such a good time。
The doctor would not wake her when he came； he said that she had been
through a pretty sharp gastric attack； which would not recur； if she ate
less of the most unwholesome things she could get； and went more into the
air； and walked a little。 He did not seem alarmed； and he made
Clementina tell him about the dance； which he had been called from to
Mrs。 Lander's bed of pain。 He joked her for not having missed him； in
the midst of their fun； she caught herself in the act of yawning； and the
doctor laughed； and went away。
Maddalena had to call her； just before dinner； when Mrs。 Lander had been
awake long enough to have sent for the doctor to explain the sort of gone
feeling which she was now the victim of。 It proved； when he came； to be
hunger； and he prescribed tea and toast and a small bit of steak。 Before
he came she had wished to arrange for going home at once； and dying in
her own country。 But his opinion so far prevailed with her that she
consented not to telegraph for berths。 〃I presume；〃 she said； 〃it'll do；
any time before the icebugs begin to run。 But I d' know； afta this；
Clementina； as I can let you leave me quite as you be'n doin'。 There was
a lot of flowas come for you； this aftanoon； but I made Maddalena put 'em
on the balcony； for I don't want you should get poisoned with 'em in your
sleep； I always head they was dangerous in a person's 'bed room。 I d'
know as they are； eitha。〃
Maddalena seemed to know that Mrs。 Lander was speaking of the flowers。
She got them and gave them to Clementina； who found they were from some
of the men she had danced with。 Mr。 Hinkle had sent a vast bunch of
violets； which presently began to give out their sweetness in the warmth
of the room； and the odor brought him before her with his yellow hair；
scrupulously parted at the side； and smoothly brushed； showing his
forehead very high up。 Most of the gentlemen wore their hair parted in
the middle； or falling in a fringe over their brows； the Russian's was
too curly to part； and Lord Lioncourt had none except at the sides。
She laughed； and Mrs。 Lander said； 〃Tell about it； Clementina；〃 and she
began with Mr。 Hinkle； and kept coming back to him from the others。 Mrs。
Lander wished most to know how that lord had got down to Florence； and
Clementina said he was coming to see her。
〃Well； I hope to goodness he won't come to…day； I a'n't fit to see
anybody。〃
〃Oh； I guess he won't come till to…morrow；〃 said Clementina； she repeated
some of the compliments she had got； and she told of all Miss Milray's
kindness to her； but Mrs。 Lander said； 〃Well； the next time； I'll thank
her not to keep you so late。〃 She was astonished to hear that Mr。 Ewins
was there； and 〃Any of the nasty things out of the hotel the'e？〃 she
asked。
〃Yes；〃 Clementina said； 〃the'e we'e； and some of them we'e very nice。
They wanted to know if I wouldn't join them； and have an aftanoon of our
own here in the hotel； so that people could come to us all at once。〃
She went back to the party； and described the rest of it。 When she came
to the part about the Russian； she told what he had said of American
girls being fond of money； and wanting to marry foreign noblemen。
Mrs。 Lander said； 〃Well； I hope you a'n't a going to get married in a
hurry； anyway； and when you do I hope you'll pick out a nice American。〃
〃Oh； yes；〃 said Clementina。
Mrs。 Lander had their dinner brought to their apartment。 She cheered up；
and she was in some danger of eating too much； but with Clementina's help
she denied herself。 Their short evening was one of the gayest；
Clementina declared she was not the least sleepy； but she we