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as dreadful as you suppose。 She took to it； practically in
despair； after her life's work was carried away in a landslip。
Surely that makes it more excusable。〃
〃What was that？〃 asked Lucy。
Mr。 Beebe sat back complacently； and Miss Alan began as follows：
〃It was a noveland 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 Amalfi 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
colourthis novel is to be about modern Italy； the other was
historicalbut that she could not start till she had an idea。
First she tried Perugia 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
every one； even if you do not approve of them。〃
Miss Alan 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 odours reminiscent of spring。 She felt
she had made almost too many allowances； and apologized hurriedly
for her toleration。
〃All the same； she is a little tooI hardly like to say
unwomanly； but she behaved most strangely when the Emersons
arrived。〃
Mr。 Beebe smiled as Miss Alan plunged into an anecdote which he
knew she would be unable to finish in the presence of a
gentleman。
〃I don't know； Miss Honeychurch； if you have noticed that Miss
Pole； the lady who has so much yellow hair； takes lemonade。 That
old Mr。 Emerson； who puts things very strangely〃
Her jaw dropped。 She was silent。 Mr。 Beebe； whose social
resources were endless； went out to order some tea； and she
continued to Lucy in a hasty whisper：
〃Stomach。 He warned Miss Pole of her stomach…acidity； he called
itand he may have meant to be kind。 I must say I forgot myself
and laughed； it was so sudden。 As Teresa truly said； it was no
laughing matter。 But the point is that Miss Lavish was positively
ATTRACTED by his mentioning S。； and said she liked plain
speaking； and meeting different grades of thought。 She thought
they were commercial travellers'drummers' was the word she
usedand all through dinner she tried to prove that England； our
great and beloved country； rests on nothing but commerce。 Teresa
was very much annoyed； and left the table before the cheese；
saying as she did so： 'There； Miss Lavish； is one who can confute
you better than I；' and pointed to that beautiful picture of Lord
Tennyson。 Then Miss Lavish said： 'Tut！ The early Victorians。'
Just imagine！ 'Tut！ The early Victorians。' My sister had gone；
and I felt bound to speak。 I said： 'Miss Lavish； I am an early
Victorian； at least； that is to say； I will hear no breath of
censure against 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 honour 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 Alan； 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 travellers。〃
〃Let me finish the story；〃 said Mr。 Beebe； who had returned。
〃Miss Lavish tried Miss Pole； myself； every one； and finally
said： 'I shall go alone。' She went。 At the end of five minutes
she returned unobtrusively with a green baize board； and began
playing patience。〃
〃Whatever 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。 Beebeold Mr。 Emerson； is he nice or not nice？ I do so want
to know。〃
Mr。 Beebe 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 Alan； what do you think？ Is he nice？〃
The little old lady shook her head； and sighed disapprovingly。
Mr。 Beebe； whom the conversation amused； stirred her up by
saying：
〃I consider that you are bound to class him as nice； Miss Alan；
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 Croce。
Oh； poor Miss Honeychurch！ It really was too bad。 No； I have quite
changed。 I do NOT like the Emersons。 They are not nice。〃
Mr。 Beebe 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 Alans； 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 Croce； and he
gathered that the two men had made a curious and possibly
concerted attempt to annex her； to show her the world from their
own strange standpoint； to interest her in their private sorrows
and joys。 This was impertinent； he did not wish their cause to be
championed by a young girl： he would rather it should fail。 After
all； he knew nothing about them； and pension joys； pension
sorrows； are flimsy things； whereas Lucy would be his
parishioner。
Lucy； with one eye upon the weather； finally said that she
thought the Emersons were nice； not that she saw anything of them
now。 Even their seats at dinner had been moved。
〃But aren't they always waylaying you to go out with them； dear？〃
said the little lady inquisitively。
〃Only once。 Charlotte didn't like it； and said somethingquite
politely； of course。〃
〃Most right of her。 They don't und