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do？〃
An idea rushed across Lucy's brain； which； had she thought of it
sooner and made it part of her； might have proved victorious。
〃I propose to speak to him；〃 said she。
Miss Bartlett uttered a cry of genuine alarm。
〃You see； Charlotte； your kindnessI shall never forget it。
Butas you saidit is my affair。 Mine and his。〃
〃And you are going to IMPLORE him； to BEG him to keep silence？〃
〃Certainly not。 There would be no difficulty。 Whatever you ask
him he answers； yes or no； then it is over。 I have been
frightened of him。 But now I am not one little bit。〃
〃But we fear him for you； dear。 You are so young and
inexperienced； you have lived among such nice people； that you
cannot realize what men can behow they can take a brutal
pleasure in insulting a woman whom her sex does not protect and
rally round。 This afternoon； for example； if I had not arrived；
what would have happened？〃
〃I can't think；〃 said Lucy gravely。
Something in her voice made Miss Bartlett repeat her question；
intoning it more vigorously。
〃What would have happened if I hadn't arrived？〃
〃I can't think；〃 said Lucy again。
〃When he insulted you； how would you have replied？〃
〃I hadn't time to think。 You came。〃
〃Yes； but won't you tell me now what you would have done？〃
〃I should have〃 She checked herself； and broke the sentence
off。 She went up to the dripping window and strained her eyes
into the darkness。 She could not think what she would have done。
〃Come away from the window； dear；〃 said Miss Bartlett。 〃You will
be seen from the road。〃
Lucy obeyed。 She was in her cousin's power。 She could not
modulate out the key of self…abasement in which she had started。
Neither of them referred again to her suggestion that she should
speak to George and settle the matter； whatever it was； with him。
Miss Bartlett became plaintive。
〃Oh； for a real man！ We are only two women； you and I。 Mr。 Beebe
is hopeless。 There is Mr。 Eager； but you do not trust him。 Oh；
for your brother！ He is young； but I know that his sister's
insult would rouse in him a very lion。 Thank God； chivalry is not
yet dead。 There are still left some men who can reverence woman。〃
As she spoke； she pulled off her rings； of which she wore
several； and ranged them upon the pin cushion。 Then she blew into
her gloves and said：
〃It will be a push to catch the morning train； but we must try。〃
〃What train？〃
〃The train to Rome。〃 She looked at her gloves critically。
The girl received the announcement as easily as it had been
given。
〃When does the train to Rome go？〃
〃At eight。〃
〃Signora Bertolini would be upset。〃
〃We must face that；〃 said Miss Bartlett； not liking to say that
she had given notice already。
〃She will make us pay for a whole week's pension。〃
〃I expect she will。 However； we shall be much more comfortable at
the Vyses' hotel。 Isn't afternoon tea given there for nothing？〃
〃Yes； but they pay extra for wine。〃 After this remark she
remained motionless and silent。 To her tired eyes Charlotte
throbbed and swelled like a ghostly figure in a dream。
They began to sort their clothes for packing； for there was no
time to lose； if they were to catch the train to Rome。 Lucy； when
admonished； began to move to and fro between the rooms； more
conscious of the discomforts of packing by candlelight than of a
subtler ill。 Charlotte； who was practical without ability； knelt
by the side of an empty trunk； vainly endeavouring to pave it
with books of varying thickness and size。 She gave two or three
sighs； for the stooping posture hurt her back； and； for all her
diplomacy； she felt that she was growing old。 The girl heard her
as she entered the room； and was seized with one of those
emotional impulses to which she could never attribute a cause。
She only felt that the candle would burn better； the packing go
easier； the world be happier； if she could give and receive some
human love。 The impulse had come before to…day； but never so
strongly。 She knelt down by her cousin's side and took her in her
arms。
Miss Bartlett returned the embrace with tenderness and warmth。
But she was not a stupid woman； and she knew perfectly well that
Lucy did not love her； but needed her to love。 For it was in
ominous tones that she said； after a long pause：
〃Dearest Lucy； how will you ever forgive me？〃
Lucy was on her guard at once； knowing by bitter experience what
forgiving Miss Bartlett meant。 Her emotion relaxed； she modified
her embrace a little； and she said：
〃Charlotte dear； what do you mean？ As if I have anything to
forgive！〃
〃You have a great deal； and I have a very great deal to forgive
myself； too。 I know well how much I vex you at every turn。〃
〃But no〃
Miss Bartlett assumed her favourite role； that of the prematurely
aged martyr。
〃Ah； but yes！ I feel that our tour together is hardly the success
I had hoped。 I might have known it would not do。 You want some
one younger and stronger and more in sympathy with you。 I am too
uninteresting and old…fashionedonly fit to pack and unpack your
things。〃
〃Please〃
〃My only consolation was that you found people more to your
taste； and were often able to leave me at home。 I had my own poor
ideas of what a lady ought to do； but I hope I did not inflict
them on you more than was necessary。 You had your own way about
these rooms； at all events。〃
〃You mustn't say these things；〃 said Lucy softly。
She still clung to the hope that she and Charlotte loved each
other； heart and soul。 They continued to pack in silence。
〃I have been a failure；〃 said Miss Bartlett； as she struggled
with the straps of Lucy's trunk instead of strapping her own。
〃Failed to make you happy； failed in my duty to your mother。 She
has been so generous to me； I shall never face her again after
this disaster。〃
〃But mother will understand。 It is not your fault； this trouble；
and it isn't a disaster either。〃
〃It is my fault； it is a disaster。 She will never forgive me； and
rightly。 Fur instance； what right had I to make friends with Miss
Lavish？〃
〃Every right。〃
〃When I was here for your sake？ If I have vexed you it is equally
true that I have neglected you。 Your mother will see this as
clearly as I do； when you tell her。〃
Lucy； from a cowardly wish to improve the situation； said：
〃Why need mother hear of it？〃
〃But you tell her everything？〃
〃I suppose I do generally。〃
〃I dare not break your confidence。 There is something sacred in
it。 Unless you feel that it is a thing you could not tell her。〃
The girl would not be degraded to this。
〃Naturally I should have told her。 But in case she should blame
you in any way； I promise I will not； I am very willing not to。 I
will never speak of it either to her or to any one。〃
Her promise brought the long…drawn interview t