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will never speak of it either to her or to any one。〃
Her promise brought the long…drawn interview to a sudden close。
Miss Bartlett pecked her smartly on both cheeks； wished her
good…night； and sent her to her own room。
For a moment the original trouble was in the background。 George
would seem to have behaved like a cad throughout； perhaps that
was the view which one would take eventually。 At present she
neither acquitted nor condemned him； she did not pass judgment。
At the moment when she was about to judge him her cousin's voice
had intervened； and； ever since； it was Miss Bartlett who had
dominated； Miss Bartlett who； even now； could be heard sighing
into a crack in the partition wall； Miss Bartlett； who had really
been neither pliable nor humble nor inconsistent。 She had worked
like a great artist； for a timeindeed； for yearsshe had been
meaningless； but at the end there was presented to the girl the
complete picture of a cheerless； loveless world in which the
young rush to destruction until they learn bettera shamefaced
world of precautions and barriers which may avert evil； but which
do not seem to bring good； if we may judge from those who have
used them most。
Lucy was suffering from the most grievous wrong which this world
has yet discovered： diplomatic advantage had been taken of her
sincerity； of her craving for sympathy and love。 Such a wrong is
not easily forgotten。 Never again did she expose herself without
due consideration and precaution against rebuff。 And such a wrong
may react disastrously upon the soul。
The door…bell rang； and she started to the shutters。 Before she
reached them she hesitated； turned； and blew out the candle。 Thus
it was that； though she saw some one standing in the wet below；
he； though he looked up； did not see her。
To reach his room he had to go by hers。 She was still dressed。 It
struck her that she might slip into the passage and just say that
she would be gone before he was up； and that their extraordinary
intercourse was over。
Whether she would have dared to do this was never proved。 At the
critical moment Miss Bartlett opened her own door； and her voice
said：
〃I wish one word with you in the drawing…room； Mr。 Emerson；
please。〃
Soon their footsteps returned； and Miss Bartlett said：
〃Good…night； Mr。 Emerson。〃
His heavy； tired breathing was the only reply； the chaperon had
done her work。
Lucy cried aloud： 〃It isn't true。 It can't all be true。 I want
not to be muddled。 I want to grow older quickly。〃
Miss Bartlett tapped on the wall。
〃Go to bed at once； dear。 You need all the rest you can get。〃
In the morning they left for Rome。
Part Two
Chapter VIII： Medieval
The drawing…room curtains at Windy Corner had been pulled to
meet； for the carpet was new and deserved protection
from the August sun。 They were heavy curtains； reaching almost to
the ground； and the light that filtered through them was subdued
and varied。 A poetnone was presentmight have quoted； 〃Life
like a dome of many coloured glass；〃 or might have compared the
curtains to sluice…gates； lowered against the intolerable tides
of heaven。 Without was poured a sea of radiance； within； the
glory； though visible； was tempered to the capacities of man。
Two pleasant people sat in the room。 Onea boy of nineteenwas
studying a small manual of anatomy； and peering occasionally at a
bone which lay upon the piano。 From time to time he bounced in
his chair and puffed and groaned； for the day was hot and the
print small； and the human frame fearfully made； and his mother；
who was writing a letter； did continually read out to him what
she had written。 And continually did she rise from her seat and
part the curtains so that a rivulet of light fell across the
carpet； and make the remark that they were still there。
〃Where aren't they？〃 said the boy； who was Freddy； Lucy's
brother。 〃I tell you I'm getting fairly sick。〃
〃For goodness' sake go out of my drawing…room； then？〃 cried Mrs。
Honeychurch； who hoped to cure her children of slang by taking it
literally。
Freddy did not move or reply。
〃I think things are coming to a head；〃 she observed； rather
wanting her son's opinion on the situation if she could obtain it
without undue supplication。
〃Time they did。〃
〃I am glad that Cecil is asking her this once more。〃
〃It's his third go； isn't it？〃
〃Freddy I do call the way you talk unkind。〃
〃I didn't mean to be unkind。〃 Then he added： 〃But I do think Lucy
might have got this off her chest in Italy。 I don't know how
girls manage things； but she can't have said 'No' properly
before； or she wouldn't have to say it again now。 Over the whole
thingI can't explainI do feel so uncomfortable。〃
〃Do you indeed； dear？ How interesting！〃
〃I feelnever mind。〃
He returned to his work。
〃Just listen to what I have written to Mrs。 Vyse。 I said： 'Dear
Mrs。 Vyse。'〃
〃Yes； mother； you told me。 A jolly good letter。〃
〃I said： 'Dear Mrs。 Vyse； Cecil has just asked my permission
about it； and I should be delighted； if Lucy wishes it。 But'〃
She stopped reading； 〃I was rather amused at Cecil asking my
permission at all。 He has always gone in for unconventionality；
and parents nowhere； and so forth。 When it comes to the point； he
can't get on without me。〃
〃Nor me。〃
〃You？〃
Freddy nodded。
〃What do you mean？〃
〃He asked me for my permission also。〃
She exclaimed： 〃How very odd of him！〃
〃Why so？〃 asked the son and heir。 〃Why shouldn't my permission be
asked？〃
〃What do you know about Lucy or girls or anything？ What ever did
you say？〃
〃I said to Cecil； 'Take her or leave her； it's no business of
mine！'〃
〃What a helpful answer！〃 But her own answer； though more normal
in its wording； had been to the same effect。
〃The bother is this；〃 began Freddy。
Then he took up his work again； too shy to say what the bother
was。 Mrs。 Honeychurch went back to the window。
〃Freddy； you must come。 There they still are！〃
〃I don't see you ought to go peeping like that。〃
〃Peeping like that！ Can't I look out of my own window？〃
But she returned to the writing…table； observing； as she passed
her son； 〃Still page 322？〃 Freddy snorted； and turned over two
leaves。 For a brief space they were silent。 Close by； beyond the
curtains； the gentle murmur of a long conversation had never
ceased。
〃The bother is this： I have put my foot in it with Cecil most
awfully。〃 He gave a nervous gulp。 〃Not content with 'permission'；
which I did givethat is to say； I said； 'I don't mind'well；
not content with that； he wanted to know whether I wasn't off my
head with joy。 He practically put it like this： Wasn't it a
splendid thing for Lucy and for Windy Corner generally if he
married her？ And he would have an answerhe said it would
strengthen his hand。〃
〃I