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〃But ought I not to apologize； at all events； for my apparent
rudeness？〃
He replied； with some irritation； that it would be quite
unnecessary； and got up from his seat to go to the
smoking…room。
〃Was I a bore？〃 said Miss Bartlett； as soon as he had
disappeared。 〃Why didn't you talk； Lucy？ He prefers young people；
I'm sure。 I do hope I haven't monopolized him。 I hoped you would
have him all the evening； as well as all dinner…time。〃
〃He is nice；〃 exclaimed Lucy。 〃Just what I remember。 He seems to
see good in every one。 No one would take him for a clergyman。〃
〃My dear Lucia〃
〃Well； you know what I mean。 And you know how clergymen generally
laugh； Mr。 Beebe laughs just like an ordinary man。〃
〃Funny girl！ How you do remind me of your mother。 I wonder if she
will approve of Mr。 Beebe。〃
〃I'm sure she will； and so will Freddy。〃
〃I think every one at Windy Corner will approve； it is the
fashionable world。 I am used to Tunbridge Wells； where we are all
hopelessly behind the times。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Lucy despondently。
There was a haze of disapproval in the air； but whether the
disapproval was of herself； or of Mr。 Beebe； or of the
fashionable world at Windy Corner； or of the narrow world at
Tunbridge Wells； she could not determine。 She tried to locate it；
but as usual she blundered。 Miss Bartlett sedulously denied
disapproving of any one； and added 〃I am afraid you are finding
me a very depressing companion。〃
And the girl again thought： 〃I must have been selfish or unkind；
I must be more careful。 It is so dreadful for Charlotte； being
poor。〃
Fortunately one of the little old ladies； who for some time had
been smiling very benignly； now approached and asked if she might
be allowed to sit where Mr。 Beebe had sat。 Permission granted；
she began to chatter gently about Italy； the plunge it had been
to come there； the gratifying success of the plunge； the
improvement in her sister's health； the necessity of closing the
bed…room windows at night； and of thoroughly emptying the
water…bottles in the morning。 She handled her subjects agreeably；
and they were； perhaps； more worthy of attention than the high
discourse upon Guelfs and Ghibellines which was proceeding
tempestuously at the other end of the room。 It was a real
catastrophe； not a mere episode； that evening of hers at Venice；
when she had found in her bedroom something that is one worse
than a flea； though one better than something else。
〃But here you are as safe as in England。 Signora Bertolini is so
English。〃
〃Yet our rooms smell；〃 said poor Lucy。 〃We dread going to bed。〃
〃Ah； then you look into the court。〃 She sighed。 〃If only Mr。
Emerson was more tactful！ We were so sorry for you at dinner。〃
〃I think he was meaning to be kind。〃
〃Undoubtedly he was；〃 said Miss Bartlett。
〃Mr。 Beebe has just been scolding me for my suspicious nature。 Of
course； I was holding back on my cousin's account。〃
〃Of course；〃 said the little old lady； and they murmured that one
could not be too careful with a young girl。
Lucy tried to look demure； but could not help feeling a great
fool。 No one was careful with her at home； or； at all events； she
had not noticed it。
〃About old Mr。 EmersonI hardly know。 No； he is not tactful；
yet； have you ever noticed that there are people who do things
which are most indelicate； and yet at the same timebeautiful？〃
〃Beautiful？〃 said Miss Bartlett； puzzled at the word。 〃Are not
beauty and delicacy the same？〃
〃So one would have thought；〃 said the other helplessly。 〃But
things are so difficult； I sometimes think。〃
She proceeded no further into things； for Mr。 Beebe reappeared；
looking extremely pleasant。
〃Miss Bartlett；〃 he cried； 〃it's all right about the rooms。 I'm
so glad。 Mr。 Emerson was talking about it in the smoking…room；
and knowing what I did； I encouraged him to make the offer again。
He has let me come and ask you。 He would be so pleased。〃
〃Oh； Charlotte；〃 cried Lucy to her cousin； 〃we must have the
rooms now。 The old man is just as nice and kind as he can be。〃
Miss Bartlett was silent。
〃I fear；〃 said Mr。 Beebe； after a pause； 〃that I have been
officious。 I must apologize for my interference。〃
Gravely displeased； he turned to go。 Not till then did Miss
Bartlett reply： 〃My own wishes； dearest Lucy； are unimportant in
comparison with yours。 It would be hard indeed if I stopped you
doing as you liked at Florence； when I am only here through your
kindness。 If you wish me to turn these gentlemen out of their
rooms； I will do it。 Would you then； Mr。 Beebe； kindly tell Mr。
Emerson that I accept his kind offer； and then conduct him to me；
in order that I may thank him personally？〃
She raised her voice as she spoke； it was heard all over the
drawing…room； and silenced the Guelfs and the Ghibellines。 The
clergyman； inwardly cursing the female sex； bowed； and departed
with her message。
〃Remember； Lucy； I alone am implicated in this。 I do not wish the
acceptance to come from you。 Grant me that； at all events。〃
Mr。 Beebe was back； saying rather nervously：
〃Mr。 Emerson is engaged； but here is his son instead。〃
The young man gazed down on the three ladies； who felt seated on
the floor； so low were their chairs。
〃My father；〃 he said； 〃is in his bath； so you cannot thank him
personally。 But any message given by you to me will be given by
me to him as soon as he comes out。〃
Miss Bartlett was unequal to the bath。 All her barbed civilities
came forth wrong end first。 Young Mr。 Emerson scored a notable
triumph to the delight of Mr。 Beebe and to the secret delight of
Lucy。
〃Poor young man！〃 said Miss Bartlett； as soon as he had gone。
〃How angry he is with his father about the rooms！ It is all he
can do to keep polite。〃
〃In half an hour or so your rooms will be ready；〃 said Mr。 Beebe。
Then looking rather thoughtfully at the two cousins； he retired
to his own rooms； to write up his philosophic diary。
〃Oh； dear！〃 breathed the little old lady； and shuddered as if all
the winds of heaven had entered the apartment。 〃Gentlemen
sometimes do not realize〃 Her voice faded away； but Miss
Bartlett seemed to understand and a conversation developed； in
which gentlemen who did not thoroughly realize played a principal
part。 Lucy； not realizing either； was reduced to literature。
Taking up Baedeker's Handbook to Northern Italy； she committed to
memory the most important dates of Florentine History。 For she
was determined to enjoy herself on the morrow。 Thus the half…hour
crept profitably away； and at last Miss Bartlett rose with a
sigh； and said：
〃I think one might venture now。 No； Lucy； do not stir。 I will
superintend the move。〃
〃How you do do everything；〃 said Lucy。
〃Naturally； dear。 It is my affair。〃
〃But I would like to help you。〃
〃No； dear。〃
Charlotte's energy！