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us： Miss Bartlett and Miss Honeychurch； who were at Tunbridge
Wells when you helped the Vicar of St。 Peter's that very cold
Easter。〃
The clergyman； who had the air of one on a 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 Honeychurch 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。 Beebe 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 neighbourhood。〃
〃Oh； how glad I am！ The name of our house is Windy Corner。〃 Mr。
Beebe 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。 Beebe 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 Fiesole； and round by
Settignano； or something of that sort。〃
〃No！〃 cried a voice from the top of the table。 〃Mr。 Beebe； you
are wrong。 The first fine afternoon your ladies must go to
Prato。〃
〃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 blotter； how much the place would grow upon them。
The Pension Bertolini had decided； almost enthusiastically； that
they would do。 Whichever way they looked； kind ladies smiled and
shouted at them。 And above all rose the voice of the clever lady；
crying： 〃Prato！ They must go to Prato。 That place is too sweetly
squalid for words。 I love it； I revel in shaking off the trammels
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 any one 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 smiling； he seemed
to be smiling across something。
She hastened after her cousin； who had already disappeared
through the curtainscurtains which smote one in the face； and
seemed heavy with more than cloth。 Beyond them stood the
unreliable Signora； bowing good…evening to her guests； and
supported by 'Enery； her little boy； and Victorier； 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 Bloomsbury boarding…house。 Was this really
Italy？
Miss Bartlett was already seated on a tightly stuffed arm…chair；
which had the colour and the contours of a tomato。 She was
talking to Mr。 Beebe； 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
to you；〃 she was saying。 〃The first evening means so much。 When
you arrived we were in for a peculiarly mauvais quart d'heure。〃
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 friendlyas one is in pensions。〃
〃Then I will say no more。〃
He pressed her very slightly； 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 meritif 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 difficultat least； I find it difficultto 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 expectI may say I
hopeyou 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 mannersI don't
mean by that that he has bad mannersand he will not keep his
opinions to himself。 We nearly complained about him to our
depressing Signora； but I am glad to say we thought better of
it。〃
〃Am I to conclude；〃 said Miss Bartlett； 〃that he is a Socialist？〃
Mr。 Beebe 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 learnt 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 their 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；