ignorCarella,Iwillbefrankwithyou.IhavecometopreventyoumarryingMrs.Herriton,becauseIseeyouwillbothbeunhappytogether.SheisEnglish,youareItaliansheisaccustomedtoonething,youtoanother.And—pardonmeifIsayit—sheisrichandyouarepoor.”
“Iamnotmarryingherbecausesheisrich,”wasthesulkyreply.
“Ineversuggestedthatforamoment,”saidPhilipcourteously.“Youarehonourable,Iamsurebutareyouwise?Andletmeremindyouthatwewantherwithusathome.Herlittledaughterwillbemotherless,ourhomewillbebrokenup.Ifyougrantmyrequestyouwillearnourthanks—andyouwillnotbewithoutarewardforyourdisappointment.”
“Reward—whatreward?”HebentoverthebackofachairandlookedearnestlyatPhilip.Theywerecomingtotermsprettyquickly.PoorLilia!
Philipsaidslowly,“Whataboutathousandlire?”
Hissoulwentforthintooneexclamation,andthenhewassilent,withgapinglips.Philipwouldhavegivendouble:hehadexpectedabargain.
“Youcanhavethemtonight.”
Hefoundwords,andsaid,“Itistoolate.”
“Butwhy?”
“Because—”Hisvoicebroke.Philipwatchedhisface,—afacewithoutrefinementperhaps,butnotwithoutexpression,—watcheditquiverandre-formanddissolvefromemotionintoemotion.Therewasavariceatonemoment,andinsolence,andpoliteness,andstupidity,andcunning—andletushopethatsometimestherewaslove.Butgraduallyoneemotiondominated,themostunexpectedofallforhischestbegantoheaveandhiseyestowinkandhismouthtotwitch,andsuddenlyhestooderectandroaredforthhiswholebeinginonetremendouslaugh.
Philipsprangup,andGino,whohadflungwidehisarmstoletthegloriouscreaturego,tookhimbytheshouldersandshookhim,andsaid,“Becausewearemarried—married—marriedassoonasIknewyouwere,coming.Therewasnotimetotellyou.Oh.oh!Youhavecomeallthewayfornothing.Oh!Andoh,yourgenerosity!”Suddenlyhebecamegrave,andsaid,“PleasepardonmeIamrude.Iamnobetterthanapeasant,andI—”HerehesawPhilip’sface,anditwastoomuchforhim.Hegaspedandexplodedandcrammedhishandsintohismouthandspatthemoutinanotherexplosion,andgavePhilipanaimlesspush,whichtoppledhimontothebed.HeutteredahorrifiedOh!andthengaveup,andboltedawaydownthepassage,shriekinglikeachild,totellthejoketohiswife.
ForatimePhiliplayonthebed,pretendingtohimselfthathewashurtgrievously.Hecouldscarcelyseefortemper,andinthepassageheranagainstMissAbbott,whopromptlyburstintotears.
“IsleepattheGlobo,”hetoldher,“andstartforSawstontomorrowmorningearly.Hehasassaultedme.Icouldprosecutehim.Butshallnot.”
“Ican’tstophere,”shesobbed.“Idaren’tstophere.Youwillhavetotakemewithyou!”