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added； 〃But just as you say； Mr。 Bennam。〃
〃I say； keep what fairly belongs to you。 It's only two or three hundred
dollars at the outside；〃 he explained to Mr。 Orson's hungry eyes； but
perhaps the sum did not affect the country minister's imagination as
trifling； his yearly salary must sometimes have been little more。
The whole interview left the vice…consul out of humor with both parties
to the affair； and as to Clementina； between the ideals of a perfect
little saint； and a perfect little simpleton he remained for the present
unable to class her。
XXXV。
Clementina and the Vice…Consul afterwards agreed that Mrs。 Lander must
have sent the will to Mr。 Orson in one of those moments of suspicion when
she distrusted everyone about her； or in that trouble concerning her
husband's kindred which had grown upon her more and more； as a means of
assuring them that they were provided for。
〃But even then；〃 the vice…consul concluded； 〃I don't see why she wanted
this man to come out here。 The only explanation is that she was a little
off her base towards the last。 That's the charitable supposition。〃
〃I don't think she was herself； some of the time；〃 Clementina assented in
acceptance of the kindly construction。
The vice…consul modified his good will toward Mrs。 Lander's memory so far
as to say； 〃Well； if she'd been somebody else most of the time； it would
have been an improvement。〃
The talk turned upon Mr。 Orson； and what he would probably do。 The vice…
consul had found him a cheap lodging； at his request； and he seemed to
have settled down at Venice either without the will or without the power
to go home； but the vice…consul did not know where he ate； or what he did
with himself except at the times when he came for letters。 Once or twice
when he looked him up he found him writing； and then the minister
explained that he had promised to 〃correspond〃 for an organ of his sect
in the Northwest； but he owned that there was no money in it。 He was
otherwise reticent and even furtive in his manner。 He did not seem to go
much about the city； but kept to his own room； and if he was writing of
Venice it must have been chiefly from his acquaintance with the little
court into which his windows looked。 He affected the vice…consul as
forlorn and helpless； and he pitied him and rather liked him as a fellow…
victim of Mrs。 Lander。
One morning Mr。 Orson came to see Clementina； and after a brief passage
of opinion upon the weather； he fell into an embarrassed silence from
which he pulled himself at last with a visible effort。 〃I hardly know
how to lay before you what I have to say； Miss Claxon；〃 he began； 〃and I
must ask you to put the best construction upon it。 I have never been
reduced to a similar distress before。 You would naturally think that I
would turn to the vice…consul； on such an occasion； but I feel； through
our relation to theto Mrs。 Landerahsomewhat more at home with you。〃
He stopped； as if he wished to be asked his business； and she entreated
him； 〃Why； what is it； Mr。 Osson？ Is there something I can do？ There
isn't anything I wouldn't！〃
A gleam； watery and faint； which still could not be quite winked away；
came into his small eyes。 〃Why； the fact is； could youahadvance me
about five dollars？〃
〃Why； Mr。 Orson！〃 she began； and he seemed to think she wished to
withdraw her offer of help； for he interposed。
〃I will repay it as soon as I get an expected remittance from home。
I came out on the invitation of Mrs。 Lander； and as her guest； and I
supposed〃
〃Oh； don't say a wo'd！〃 cried Clementina； but now that he had begun he
was powerless to stop。
〃I would not ask； but my landlady has pressed me for her rentI suppose
she needs itand I have been reduced to the last copper〃
The girl whose eyes the tears of self pity so rarely visited； broke into
a sob that seemed to surprise her visitor。 But she checked herself as
with a quick inspiration： 〃Have you been to breakfast？〃
〃Wellahnot this morning；〃 Mr。 Orson admitted； as if to imply that
having breakfasted some other morning might be supposed to serve the
purpose。
She left him and ran to the door。 〃Maddalena； Maddalena！〃 she called；
and Maddalena responded with a frightened voice from the direction of the
kitchen：
〃Vengo subito！〃
She hurried out with the coffee…pot in her hand； as if she had just taken
it up when Clementina called； and she halted for the whispered colloquy
between them which took place before she set it down on the table already
laid for breakfast； then she hurried out of the room again。 She came
back with a cantaloupe and grapes； and cold ham； and put them before
Clementina and her guest； who both ignored the hunger with which he swept
everything before him。 When his famine had left nothing； he said； in
decorous compliment：
〃That is very good coffee； I should think the genuine berry； though I am
told that they adulterate coffee a great deal in Europe。〃
〃Do they？〃 asked Clementina。 〃I didn't know it。〃
She left him still sitting before the table； and came back with some
bank…notes in her hand。 〃Are you sure you hadn't betta take moa？〃 she
asked。
〃I think that five dollars will be all that I shall require；〃 he
answered； with dignity。 〃I should be unwilling to accept more。 I shall
undoubtedly receive some remittances soon。〃
〃Oh； I know you will；〃 Clementina returned； and she added； 〃I am waiting
for lettas myself； I don't think any one ought to give up。〃
The preacher ignored the appeal which was in her tone rather than her
words； and went on to explain at length the circumstances of his having
come to Europe so unprovided against chances。 When he wished to excuse
his imprudence； she cried out； 〃Oh； don't say a wo'd ！ It's just like my
own fatha；〃 and she told him some things of her home which apparently did
not interest him very much。 He had a kind of dull； cold self…absorption
in which he was indeed so little like her father that only her kindness
for the lonely man could have justified her in thinking there was any
resemblance。
She did not see him again for a week； and meantime she did not tell the
vice…consul of what had happened。 But an anxiety for the minister began
to mingle with her anxieties for herself； she constantly wondered why she
did not hear from her lover； and she occasionally wondered whether Mr。
Orson were not falling into want again。 She had decided to betray his
condition to the vice…consul； when he came； bringing the money she had
lent him。 He had received a remittance from an unexpected source； and he
hoped she would excuse his delay in repaying her loan。 She wished not to
take the money； at least till he was quite sure he should not want it；
but he insisted。
〃I have enough to keep me； now； till I hear from other sources； with the
means for returning home。 I see no object in continuing here； under the
circumstances：
In the relief which she felt for him Clementina's heart throbbed with a
pain which was all for herself。 Why should she wait any longer either？
For that instant she abandoned the hope which had kept her up so long； a
wave of homesickness overwhelmed her。
〃I s