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everywhere； her calls were returned with enthusiasm； and by the
time people found out that she was not exactly of their milieu；
they liked her； and it did not seem to matter。 When Mr。
Honeychurch died； he had the satisfactionwhich few honest
solicitors despiseof leaving his family rooted in the best
society obtainable。
The best obtainable。 Certainly many of the immigrants were rather
dull； and Lucy realized this more vividly since her return from
Italy。 Hitherto she had accepted their ideals without questioning
their kindly affluence； their inexplosive religion； their
dislike of paper…bags； orange…peel； and broken bottles。 A Radical
out and out； she learnt to speak with horror of Suburbia。 Life；
so far as she troubled to conceive it； was a circle of rich；
pleasant people； with identical interests and identical foes。
In this circle； one thought； married； and died。 Outside it were
poverty and vulgarity for ever trying to enter； just as the
London fog tries to enter the pine…woods pouring through the gaps
in the northern hills。 But； in Italy； where any one who chooses
may warm himself in equality； as in the sun； this conception of
life vanished。 Her senses expanded； she felt that there was no
one whom she might not get to like； that social barriers were
irremovable； doubtless； but not particularly high。 You jump over
them just as you jump into a peasant's olive…yard in the
Apennines； and he is glad to see you。 She returned with new eyes。
So did Cecil； but Italy had quickened Cecil； not to tolerance；
but to irritation。 He saw that the local society was narrow； but；
instead of saying； 〃Does that very much matter？〃 he rebelled； and
tried to substitute for it the society he called broad。 He did
not realize that Lucy had consecrated her environment by the
thousand little civilities that create a tenderness in time； and
that though her eyes saw its defects； her heart refused to
despise it entirely。 Nor did he realize a more important point
that if she was too great for this society； she was too great for
all society； and had reached the stage where personal intercourse
would alone satisfy her。 A rebel she was； but not of the kind he
understooda rebel who desired； not a wider dwelling…room； but
equality beside the man she loved。 For Italy was offering her the
most priceless of all possessionsher own soul。
Playing bumble…puppy with Minnie Beebe； niece to the rector； and
aged thirteenan ancient and most honourable game； which
consists in striking tennis…balls high into the air； so that they
fall over the net and immoderately bounce； some hit Mrs。
Honeychurch； others are lost。 The sentence is confused； but the
better illustrates Lucy's state of mind； for she was trying to
talk to Mr。 Beebe at the same time。
〃Oh； it has been such a nuisancefirst he； then theyno one
knowing what they wanted； and every one so tiresome。〃
〃But they really are coming now；〃 said Mr。 Beebe。 〃I wrote to
Miss Teresa a few days agoshe was wondering how often the
butcher called； and my reply of once a month must have impressed
her favourably。 They are coming。 I heard from them this morning。
〃I shall hate those Miss Alans！〃 Mrs。 Honeychurch cried。 〃Just
because they're old and silly one's expected to say 'How sweet！'
I hate their 'if'…ing and 'but'…ing and 'and'…ing。 And poor Lucy
serve her rightworn to a shadow。〃
Mr。 Beebe watched the shadow springing and shouting over the
tennis…court。 Cecil was absentone did not play bumble…puppy
when he was there。
〃Well； if they are coming No； Minnie； not Saturn。〃 Saturn was a
tennis…ball whose skin was partially unsewn。 When in motion his
orb was encircled by a ring。 〃If they are coming； Sir Harry will
let them move in before the twenty…ninth； and he will cross out
the clause about whitewashing the ceilings； because it made them
nervous； and put in the fair wear and tear one。That doesn't
count。 I told you not Saturn。〃
〃Saturn's all right for bumble…puppy；〃 cried Freddy； joining
them。 〃Minnie； don't you listen to her。〃
〃Saturn doesn't bounce。〃
〃Saturn bounces enough。〃
〃No； he doesn't。〃
〃Well； he bounces better than the Beautiful White Devil。〃
〃Hush； dear；〃 said Mrs。 Honeychurch。
〃But look at Lucycomplaining of Saturn； and all the time's got
the Beautiful White Devil in her hand； ready to plug it in。
That's right； Minnie； go for herget her over the shins with the
racquetget her over the shins！〃
Lucy fell； the Beautiful White Devil rolled from her hand。
Mr。 Beebe picked it up； and said： 〃The name of this ball is
Vittoria Corombona； please。〃 But his correction passed
unheeded。
Freddy possessed to a high degree the power of lashing little
girls to fury； and in half a minute he had transformed Minnie
from a well…mannered child into a howling wilderness。 Up in the
house Cecil heard them； and； though he was full of entertaining
news； he did not come down to impart it； in case he got hurt。 He
was not a coward and bore necessary pain as well as any man。 But
he hated the physical violence of the young。 How right it was！
Sure enough it ended in a cry。
〃I wish the Miss Alans could see this；〃 observed Mr。 Beebe； just
as Lucy； who was nursing the injured Minnie； was in turn lifted
off her feet by her brother。
〃Who are the Miss Alans？〃 Freddy panted。
〃They have taken Cissie Villa。〃
〃That wasn't the name〃
Here his foot slipped； and they all fell most agreeably on to the
grass。 An interval elapses。
〃Wasn't what name？〃 asked Lucy； with her brother's head in her
lap。
〃Alan wasn't the name of the people Sir Harry's let to。〃
〃Nonsense； Freddy！ You know nothing about it。〃
〃Nonsense yourself！ I've this minute seen him。 He said to me：
'Ahem！ Honeychurch；'〃Freddy was an indifferent mimic〃'ahem！
ahem！ I have at last procured really dee…sire…rebel tenants。' I
said； 'ooray； old boy！' and slapped him on the back。〃
〃Exactly。 The Miss Alans？〃
〃Rather not。 More like Anderson。〃
〃Oh； good gracious； there isn't going to be another muddle！〃 Mrs。
Honeychurch exclaimed。 〃Do you notice； Lucy； I'm always right？ I
said don't interfere with Cissie Villa。 I'm always right。 I'm
quite uneasy at being always right so often。〃
〃It's only another muddle of Freddy's。 Freddy doesn't even know
the name of the people he pretends have taken it instead。〃
〃Yes； I do。 I've got it。 Emerson。〃
〃What name？〃
〃Emerson。 I'll bet you anything you like。〃
〃What a weathercock Sir Harry is；〃 said Lucy quietly。 〃I wish I
had never bothered over it at all。〃
Then she lay on her back and gazed at the cloudless sky。 Mr。
Beebe； whose opinion of her rose daily； whispered to his niece
that THAT was the proper way to behave if any little thing went
wrong。
Meanwhile the name of the new tenants had diverted Mrs。
Honeychurch from the contemplation of her own abilities。
〃Emerson； Freddy？ Do you know wha