dbythethoughtofdentistrywithinthosewalls.
Thetownabovethemswungtotheleft,totheright,totheleftagain,astheroadwoundupwardthroughthetrees,andthetowersbegantoglowinthedescendingsun.Astheydrewnear,Philipsawtheheadsofpeoplegatheringblackuponthewalls,andheknewwellwhatwashappening—howthenewswasspreadingthatastrangerwasinsight,andthebeggarswerearousedfromtheircontentandbidtoadjusttheirdeformitieshowthealabastermanwasrunningforhiswares,andtheAuthorizedGuiderunningforhispeakedcapandhistwocardsofrecommendation—onefromMissM’Gee,MaidaVale,theother,lessvaluable,fromanEquerrytotheQueenofPeruhowsomeoneelsewasrunningtotellthelandladyoftheStellad’ItaliatoputonherpearlnecklaceandbrownbootsandemptytheslopsfromthesparebedroomandhowthelandladywasrunningtotellLiliaandherboythattheirfatewasathand.
PerhapsitwasapityPhiliphadtalkedsoprofusely.HehaddrivenMissAbbotthalfdemented,buthehadgivenhimselfnotimetoconcertaplan.Theendcamesosuddenly.Theyemergedfromthetreesontotheterracebeforethewalk,withthevisionofhalfTuscanyradiantinthesunbehindthem,andthentheyturnedinthroughtheSienagate,andtheirjourneywasover.TheDoganamenadmittedthemwithanairofgraciouswelcome,andtheyclatteredupthenarrowdarkstreet,greetedbythatmixtureofcuriosityandkindnesswhichmakeseachItalianarrivalsowonderful.
Hewasstunnedandknewnotwhattodo.Atthehotelhereceivednoordinaryreception.Thelandladywrunghimbythehandonepersonsnatchedhisumbrella,anotherhisbagpeoplepushedeachotheroutofhisway.Theentranceseemedblockedwithacrowd.Dogswerebarking,bladderwhistlesbeingblown,womenwavingtheirhandkerchiefs,excitedchildrenscreamingonthestairs,andatthetopofthestairswasLiliaherself,veryradiant,withherbestblouseon.
“Welcome!”shecried.“WelcometoMonteriano!”Hegreetedher,forhedidnotknowwhatelsetodo,andasympatheticmurmurrosefromthecrowdbelow.
“Youtoldmetocomehere,”shecontinued,“andIdon’tforgetit.LetmeintroduceSignorCarella!”
Philipdiscernedinthecornerbehindherayoungmanwhomighteventuallyprovehandsomeandwell-made,butcertainlydidnotseemsothen.Hewashalfenvelopedinthedraperyofacolddirtycurtain,andnervouslystuckoutahand,whichPhiliptookandfoundthickanddamp.Thereweremoremurmursofapprovalfromthestairs.
“Well,din-din’snearlyready,”saidLilia.“Yourroom’sdownthepassage,Philip.Youneedn’tgochanging.”
Hestumbledawaytowashhishands,utterlycrushedbyhereffrontery.
“DearCaroline!”whisperedLiliaassoonashehadgone.“Whatanangelyou’vebeentotellhim!Hetakesitsowell