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till five？〃 she demanded jealously。
〃He said he couldn't come back；〃 Clementina answered sadly。
The woman turned her head on her pillow and looked at the girl's face。
〃Oh！〃 she said for all comment。
XXXI。
The Milrays came a month later； to seek a milder sun than they had left
burning in Florence。 The husband and wife had been sojourning there
since their arrival from Egypt； but they had not been his sister's
guests； and she did not now pretend to be of their party； though the same
train； even the same carriage； had brought her to Venice with them。 They
went to a hotel； and Miss Milray took lodgings where she always spent her
Junes； before going to the Tyrol for the summer。
〃You are wonderfully improved； every way；〃 Mrs。 Milray said to Clementina
when they met。 〃I knew you would be； if Miss Milray took you in hand；
and I can see she has。 What she doesn't know about the world isn't worth
knowing！ I hope she hasn't made you too worldly？ But if she has； she's
taught you how to keep from showing it； you're just as innocent…looking
as ever； and that's the main thing； you oughtn't to lose that。 You
wouldn't dance a skirt dance now before a ship's company； but if you did；
no one would suspect that you knew any better。 Have you forgiven me；
yet？ Well； I didn't use you very well； Clementina； and I never pretended
I did。 I've eaten a lot of humble pie for that； my dear。 Did Miss
Milray tell you that I wrote to her about it？ Of course you won't say
how she told you； but she ought to have done me the justice to say that I
tried to be a friend at court with her for you。 If she didn't； she
wasn't fair。〃
〃She neva said anything against you； Mrs。 Milray；〃 Clementina answered。
〃Discreet as ever； my dear！ I understand！ And I hope you understand
about that old affair； too； by this time。 It was a complication。 I had
to get back at Lioncourt somehow； and I don't honestly think now that his
admiration for a young girl was a very wholesome thing for her。 But
never mind。 You had that Boston goose in Florence； too； last winter；
and I suppose he gobbled up what little Miss Milray had left of me。 But
she's charming。 I could go down on my knees to her art when she really
tries to finish any one。〃
Clementina noticed that Mrs。 Milray had got a new way of talking。 She
had a chirpiness； and a lift in her inflections； which if it was not
exactly English was no longer Western American。 Clementina herself in
her association with Hinkle had worn off her English rhythm； and in her
long confinement to the conversation of Mrs。 Lander； she had reverted to
her clipped Yankee accent。 Mrs。 Milray professed to like it； and said it
brought back so delightfully those pleasant days at Middlemount； when
Clementina really was a child。 〃I met somebody at Cairo； who seemed very
glad to hear about you； though he tried to seem not。 Can you guess who
it was？ I see that you never could； in the world！ We got quite chummy
one day； when we were going out to the pyramids together； and he gave
himself away； finely。 He's a simple soul！ But when they're in love
they're all so！ It was a little queer； colloguing with the ex…headwaiter
on society terms； but the head…waitership was merely an episode； and the
main thing is that he is very talented； and is going to be a minister。
It's a pity he's so devoted to his crazy missionary scheme。 Some one
ought to get hold of him； and point him in the direction of a rich New
York congregation。 He'd find heathen enough among them； and he could do
the greatest amount of good with their money； I tried to talk it into
him。 I suppose you saw him in Florence； this spring？〃 she suddenly
asked。
〃Yes；〃 Clementina answered briefly。
〃And you didn't make it up together。 I got that much out of Miss Milray。
Well； if he were here； I should find out why。 But I don't suppose you
would tell me。〃 She waited a moment to see if Clementina would； and then
she said； 〃It's a pity； for I've a notion I could help you； and I think I
owe you a good turn； for the way I behaved about your dance。 But if you
don't want my help； you don't。〃
〃I would say so if I did； Mrs。 Milray；〃 said Clementina。 〃I was hu't；
at the time； but I don't care anything for it； now。 I hope you won't
think about it any more！〃
〃Thank you；〃 said Mrs。 Milray； 〃 I'll try not to；〃 and she laughed。 〃But
I should like to do something to prove my repentance。〃
Clementina perceived that for some reason she would rather have more than
less cause for regret； and that she was mocking her； but she was without
the wish or the power to retaliate； and she did not try to fathom Mrs。
Milray's motives。 Most motives in life； even bad motives； lie nearer the
surface than most people commonly pretend； and she might not have had to
dig deeper into Mrs。 Milray's nature for hers than that layer of her
consciousness where she was aware that Clementina was a pet of her
sister…in…law。 For no better reason she herself made a pet of Mrs。
Lander； whose dislike of Miss Milray was not hard to divine； and whose
willingness to punish her through Clementina was akin to her own。 The
sick woman was easily flattered back into her first belief in Mrs。 Milray
and accepted her large civilities and small services as proof of her
virtues。 She began to talk them into Clementina； and to contrast them
with the wicked principles and actions of Miss Milray。
The girl had forgiven Mrs。 Milray； but she could not go back to any trust
in her； and she could only passively assent to her praise。 When Mrs。
Lander pressed her for anything more explicit she said what she thought；
and then Mrs。 Lander accused her of hating Mrs。 Milray； who was more her
friend than some that flattered her up for everything； and tried to make
a fool of her。
〃I undastand now；〃 she said one day； 〃what that recta meant by wantin' me
to make life ba'd for you； he saw how easy you was to spoil。 Miss Milray
is one to praise you to your face； and disgrace you be hind your back；
and so I tell you。 When Mrs。 Milray thought you done wrong she come and
said so； and you can't forgive her。〃
Clementina did not answer。 She had mastered the art of reticence in her
relations with Mrs。 Lander； and even when Miss Milray tempted her one day
to give way； she still had strength to resist。 But she could not deny
that Mrs。 Lander did things at times to worry her； though she ended
compassionately with the reflection： 〃She's sick。〃
〃I dont think she's very sick； now；〃 retorted her friend。
〃No； that's the reason she's so worrying。 When she's really sick； she's
betta。〃
〃Because she's frightened； I suppose。 And how long do you propose to
stand it？
〃I don't know；〃 Clementina listlessly answered。
〃She couldnt get along without me。 I guess I can stand it till we go
home； she says she is going home in the fall。〃
Miss Milray sat looking at the girl a moment。
〃Shall you be glad to go home？〃
〃Oh yes； indeed！〃
〃To that place in the woods？〃
〃Why； yes！ What makes you ask？〃
〃Nothing。 But Clementina； sometimes I think you don't quite understand
yourself。 Don't you know that you are very pretty and very char