oundhernow—thearrivalatherfirstresting-place,when,afterlongdrivingthroughdarkanddirtystreets,sheshouldatlastbehold,amidtheroaroftramsandtheglareofarclamps,thebuttressesofthecathedralofMilan.
“Handkerchiefsandcollars,”screamedHarriet,“inmyinlaidbox!I’velentyoumyinlaidbox.”
“GoodoldHarry!”Shekissedeveryoneagain,andtherewasamoment’ssilence.Theyallsmiledsteadily,exceptingPhilip,whowaschokinginthefog,andoldMrs.Theobald,whohadbeguntocry.MissAbbottgotintothecarriage.Theguardhimselfshutthedoor,andtoldLiliathatshewouldbeallright.Thenthetrainmoved,andtheyallmovedwithitacoupleofsteps,andwavedtheirhandkerchiefs,andutteredcheerfullittlecries.AtthatmomentMr.Kingcroftreappeared,carryingafootwarmerbybothends,asifitwasatea-tray.Hewassorrythathewastoolate,andcalledoutinaquiveringvoice,“Good-bye,Mrs.Charles.Mayyouenjoyyourself,andmayGodblessyou.”
Liliasmiledandnodded,andthentheabsurdpositionofthefoot-warmerovercameher,andshebegantolaughagain.
“Oh,Iamsosorry,”shecriedback,“butyoudolooksofunny.Oh,youalllooksofunnywaving!Oh,pray!”Andlaughinghelplessly,shewascarriedoutintothefog.
“Highspiritstobeginsolongajourney,”saidMrs.Theobald,dabbinghereyes.
Mr.Kingcroftsolemnlymovedhisheadintokenofagreement.“Iwish,”saidhe,“thatMrs.Charleshadgottenthefootwarmer.TheseLondonporterswon’ttakeheedtoacountrychap.”
“Butyoudidyourbest,”saidMrs.Herriton.“AndIthinkitsimplynobleofyoutohavebroughtMrs.Theobaldallthewayhereonsuchadayasthis.”Then,ratherhastily,sheshookhands,andlefthimtotakeMrs.Theobaldallthewayback.
Sawston,herownhome,waswithineasyreachofLondon,andtheywerenotlatefortea.Teawasinthedining-room,withaneggforIrma,tokeepupthechild’sspirits.Thehouseseemedstrangelyquietafterafortnight’sbustle,andtheirconversationwasspasmodicandsubdued.TheywonderedwhetherthetravellershadgottoFolkestone,whetheritwouldbeatallrough,andifsowhatwouldhappentopoorMissAbbott.
“And,Granny,whenwilltheoldshipgettoItaly?”askedIrma.
“‘Grandmother,’dearnot‘Granny,’”saidMrs.Herriton,givingherakiss.“Andwesay‘aboat’or‘asteamer,’not‘aship.’Shipshavesails.Andmotherwon’tgoallthewaybysea.YoulookatthemapofEurope,andyou’llseewhy.Harriet,takeher.GowithAuntHarriet,andshe’llshowyouthemap.”
“Righto!”saidthelittlegirl,anddraggedthereluctantHarrietintothelibrary.Mrs.Herritonandhersonwereleftalone.Th