“They’vestoppedthereoveraweek!”hecried.“Why!Ishouldn’thavedoneasmuchmyself.Theymustbereallykeen,forthehotel’snonetoocomfortable.”
“Icannotunderstandpeople,”saidHarriet.“Whatcantheybedoingallday?Andthereisnochurchthere,Isuppose.”
“ThereisSantaDeodata,oneofthemostbeautifulchurchesinItaly.”
“OfcourseImeananEnglishchurch,”saidHarrietstiffly.“LiliapromisedmethatshewouldalwaysbeinalargetownonSundays.”
“IfshegoestoaserviceatSantaDeodata’s,shewillfindmorebeautyandsinceritythanthereisinalltheBackKitchensofEurope.”
TheBackKitchenwashisnicknameforSt.James’s,asmalldepressingedificemuchpatronizedbyhissister.Shealwaysresentedanyslightonit,andMrs.Herritonhadtointervene.
“Now,dears,don’t.ListentoLilia’sletter.‘Welovethisplace,andIdonotknowhowIshalleverthankPhilipfortellingmeit.Itisnotonlysoquaint,butoneseestheItaliansunspoiledinalltheirsimplicityandcharmhere.Thefrescoesarewonderful.Caroline,whogrowssweetereveryday,isverybusysketching.’”
“Everyonetohistaste!”saidHarriet,whoalwaysdeliveredaplatitudeasifitwasanepigram.ShewascuriouslyvirulentaboutItaly,whichshehadnevervisited,heronlyexperienceoftheContinentbeinganoccasionalsixweeksintheProtestantpartsofSwitzerland.
“Oh,Harrietisabadlot!”saidPhilipassoonasshelefttheroom.Hismotherlaughed,andtoldhimnottobenaughtyandtheappearanceofIrma,justofftoschool,preventedfurtherdiscussion.NotonlyinTractsisachildapeacemaker.
“Onemoment,Irma,”saidheruncle.“I’mgoingtothestation.I’llgiveyouthepleasureofmycompany.”
Theystartedtogether.Irmawasgratifiedbutconversationflagged,forPhiliphadnottheartoftalkingtotheyoung.Mrs.Herritonsatalittlelongeratthebreakfasttable,re-readingLilia’sletter.Thenshehelpedthecooktoclear,ordereddinner,andstartedthehousemaidturningoutthedrawing-room,Tuesdaybeingitsday.Theweatherwaslovely,andshethoughtshewoulddoalittlegardening,asitwasquiteearly.ShecalledHarriet,whohadrecoveredfromtheinsulttoSt.James’s,andtogethertheywenttothekitchengardenandbegantosowsomeearlyvegetables.
“Wewillsavethepeastothelasttheyarethegreatestfun,”saidMrs.Herriton,whohadthegiftofmakingworkatreat.Sheandherelderlydaughteralwaysgotonverywell,thoughtheyhadnotagreatdealincommon.Harriet’seducationhadbeenalmosttoosuccessful.AsPhiliponcesaid,shehad“boltedallthecardinalvirtuesandcouldn’tdigestthem.”Thoughpiousandp