TheywereallatCharingCrosstoseeLiliaoff—Philip,Harriet,Irma,Mrs.Herritonherself.EvenMrs.Theobald,squiredbyMr.Kingcroft,hadbravedthejourneyfromYorkshiretobidheronlydaughtergood-bye.MissAbbottwaslikewiseattendedbynumerousrelatives,andthesightofsomanypeopletalkingatonceandsayingsuchdifferentthingscausedLiliatobreakintoungovernablepealsoflaughter.
“Quiteanovation,”shecried,sprawlingoutofherfirst-classcarriage.“They’lltakeusforroyalty.Oh,Mr.Kingcroft,getusfoot-warmers.”
Thegood-naturedyoungmanhurriedaway,andPhilip,takinghisplace,floodedherwithafinalstreamofadviceandinjunctions—wheretostop,howtolearnItalian,whentousemosquito-nets,whatpicturestolookat.“Remember,”heconcluded,“thatitisonlybygoingoffthetrackthatyougettoknowthecountry.Seethelittletowns—Gubbio,Pienza,Cortona,SanGemignano,Monteriano.Anddon’t,letmebegyou,gowiththatawfultouristideathatItaly’sonlyamuseumofantiquitiesandart.LoveandunderstandtheItalians,forthepeoplearemoremarvellousthantheland.”
“HowIwishyouwerecoming,Philip,”shesaid,flatteredattheunwontednoticeherbrother-in-lawwasgivingher.
“IwishIwere.”Hecouldhavemanageditwithoutgreatdifficulty,forhiscareerattheBarwasnotsointenseastopreventoccasionalholidays.ButhisfamilydislikedhiscontinualvisitstotheContinent,andhehimselfoftenfoundpleasureintheideathathewastoobusytoleavetown.
“Good-bye,deareveryone.Whatawhirl!”ShecaughtsightofherlittledaughterIrma,andfeltthatatouchofmaternalsolemnitywasrequired.“Good-bye,darling.Mindyou’realwaysgood,anddowhatGrannytellsyou.”
Shereferrednottoherownmother,buttohermother-in-law,Mrs.Herriton,whohatedthetitleofGranny.
Irmaliftedaseriousfacetobekissed,andsaidcautiously,“I’lldomybest.”
“Sheissuretobegood,”saidMrs.Herriton,whowasstandingpensivelyalittleoutofthehubbub.ButLiliawasalreadycallingtoMissAbbott,atall,grave,rathernice-lookingyoungladywhowasconductingheradieusinamoredecorousmannerontheplatform.
“Caroline,myCaroline!Jumpin,oryourchaperonwillgooffwithoutyou.”
AndPhilip,whomtheideaofItalyalwaysintoxicated,hadstartedagain,tellingherofthesuprememomentsofhercomingjourney—theCampanileofAirolo,whichwouldburstonherwhensheemergedfromtheSt.Gothardtunnel,presagingthefuturetheviewoftheTicinoandLagoMaggioreasthetrainclimbedtheslopesofMonteCeneretheviewofLugano,theviewofComo—Italygatheringthickar