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I see no truth in them。 Look at that fat man in blue！ He must
weigh as much as I do； and he is shooting into the sky like an
air balloon。〃
He was referring to the fresco of the 〃Ascension of St。 John。〃
Inside； the lecturer's voice faltered； as well it might。 The
audience shifted uneasily； and so did Lucy。 She was sure that she
ought not to be with these men； but they had cast a spell over
her。 They were so serious and so strange that she could not
remember how to behave。
〃Now； did this happen； or didn't it？ Yes or no？〃
George replied：
〃It happened like this； if it happened at all。 I would rather go
up to heaven by myself than be pushed by cherubs； and if I got
there I should like my friends to lean out of it； just as they do
here。〃
〃You will never go up；〃 said his father。 〃You and I； dear boy；
will lie at peace in the earth that bore us； and our names will
disappear as surely as our work survives。〃
〃Some of the people can only see the empty grave； not the saint；
whoever he is； going up。 It did happen like that； if it happened
at all。〃
〃Pardon me；〃 said a frigid voice。 〃The chapel is somewhat small
for two parties。 We will incommode you no longer。〃
The lecturer was a clergyman； and his audience must be also his
flock； for they held prayer…books as well as guide…books in their
hands。 They filed out of the chapel in silence。 Amongst them were
the two little old ladies of the Pension BertoliniMiss Teresa
and Miss Catherine Alan。
〃Stop！〃 cried Mr。 Emerson。 〃There's plenty of room for us all。
Stop！〃
The procession disappeared without a word。
Soon the lecturer could be heard in the next chapel； describing
the life of St。 Francis。
〃George； I do believe that clergyman is the Brixton curate。〃
George went into the next chapel and returned； saying 〃Perhaps he
is。 I don't remember。〃
〃Then I had better speak to him and remind him who I am。 It's
that Mr。 Eager。 Why did he go？ Did we talk too loud？ How
vexatious。 I shall go and say we are sorry。 Hadn't I better？ Then
perhaps he will come back。〃
〃He will not come back；〃 said George。
But Mr。 Emerson； contrite and unhappy； hurried away to apologize
to the Rev。 Cuthbert Eager。 Lucy； apparently absorbed in a
lunette； could hear the lecture again interrupted； the anxious；
aggressive voice of the old man； the curt； injured replies of his
opponent。 The son； who took every little contretemps as if it
were a tragedy； was listening also。
〃My father has that effect on nearly every one；〃 he informed her。
〃He will try to be kind。〃
〃I hope we all try；〃 said she； smiling nervously。
〃Because we think it improves our characters。 But he is kind to
people because he loves them； and they find him out； and are
offended； or frightened。〃
〃How silly of them！〃 said Lucy； though in her heart she
sympathized； 〃I think that a kind action done tactfully〃
〃Tact！〃
He threw up his head in disdain。 Apparently she had given the
wrong answer。 She watched the singular creature pace up and down
the chapel。 For a young man his face was rugged； anduntil the
shadows fell upon ithard。 Enshadowed； it sprang into
tenderness。 She saw him once again at Rome； on the ceiling of the
Sistine Chapel； carrying a burden of acorns。 Healthy and
muscular； he yet gave her the feeling of greyness； of tragedy
that might only find solution in the night。 The feeling soon
passed； it was unlike her to have entertained anything so subtle。
Born of silence and of unknown emotion； it passed when Mr。
Emerson returned； and she could re…enter the world of rapid talk；
which was alone familiar to her。
〃Were you snubbed？〃 asked his son tranquilly。
〃But we have spoilt the pleasure of I don't know how many people。
They won't come back。〃
〃。。。full of innate sympathy。。。quickness to perceive good in
others。。。vision of the brotherhood of man。。。〃 Scraps of the
lecture on St。 Francis came floating round the partition wall。
〃Don't let us spoil yours；〃 he continued to Lucy。 〃Have you
looked at those saints？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Lucy。 〃They are lovely。 Do you know which is the
tombstone that is praised in Ruskin？〃
He did not know； and suggested that they should try to guess it。
George； rather to her relief； refused to move； and she and the
old man wandered not unpleasantly about Santa Croce； which；
though it is like a barn； has harvested many beautiful things
inside its walls。 There were also beggars to avoid。 and guides to
dodge round the pillars； and an old lady with her dog； and here
and there a priest modestly edging to his Mass through the groups
of tourists。 But Mr。 Emerson was only half interested。 He watched
the lecturer； whose success he believed he had impaired； and then
he anxiously watched his son。
〃Why will he look at that fresco？〃 he said uneasily。 〃I saw
nothing in it。〃
〃I like Giotto；〃 she replied。 〃It is so wonderful what they say
about his tactile values。 Though I like things like the Della
Robbia babies better。〃
〃So you ought。 A baby is worth a dozen saints。 And my baby's
worth the whole of Paradise； and as far as I can see he lives in
Hell。〃
Lucy again felt that this did not do。
〃In Hell；〃 he repeated。 〃He's unhappy。〃
〃Oh； dear！〃 said Lucy。
〃How can he be unhappy when he is strong and alive？ What more is
one to give him？ And think how he has been brought upfree from
all the superstition and ignorance that lead men to hate one
another in the name of God。 With such an education as that； I
thought he was bound to grow up happy。〃
She was no theologian； but she felt that here was a very foolish
old man； as well as a very irreligious one。 She also felt that
her mother might not like her talking to that kind of person； and
that Charlotte would object most strongly。
〃What are we to do with him？〃 he asked。 〃He comes out for his
holiday to Italy； and behaveslike that； like the little child
who ought to have been playing； and who hurt himself upon the
tombstone。 Eh？ What did you say？〃
Lucy had made no suggestion。 Suddenly he said：
〃Now don't be stupid over this。 I don't require you to fall in
love with my boy； but I do think you might try and understand
him。 You are nearer his age； and if you let yourself go I am sure
you are sensible。 You might help me。 He has known so few women；
and you have the time。 You stop here several weeks； I suppose？
But let yourself go。 You are inclined to get muddled； if I may
judge from last night。 Let yourself go。 Pull out from the depths
those thoughts that you do not understand； and spread them out in
the sunlight and know the meaning of them。 By understanding
George you may learn to understand yourself。 It will be good for
both of you。〃
To this extraordinary speech Lucy found no answer。
〃I only know what it is that's wrong with him； not why it is。〃
〃And what is it？〃 asked Lucy fearfully； expecting some harrow