ercomeoutandlivewiththem.“Theairisgood,soisthefoodshewillbehappyhere,andweshallnothavetopartwiththemoney.”ButLiliahadnotthecourageeventosuggestthistotheHerritons,andanunexpectedterrorseizedheratthethoughtofIrmaoranyEnglishchildbeingeducatedatMonteriano.
Ginobecameterriblydepressedoverthesolicitors’letter,moredepressedthanshethoughtnecessary.Therewasnomoretodointhehouse,andhespentwholedaysintheloggialeaningovertheparapetorsittingastrideitdisconsolately.
“Oh,youidleboy!”shecried,pinchinghismuscles.“Goandplaypallone.”
“Iamamarriedman,”heanswered,withoutraisinghishead.“Idonotplaygamesanymore.”
“Goandseeyourfriendsthen.”
“Ihavenofriendsnow.”
“Silly,silly,silly!Youcan’tstopindoorsallday!”
“Iwanttoseenoonebutyou.”Hespatontoanolive-tree.
“Now,Gino,don’tbesilly.Goandseeyourfriends,andbringthemtoseeme.Webothofuslikesociety.”
Helookedpuzzled,butallowedhimselftobepersuaded,wentout,foundthathewasnotasfriendlessashesupposed,andreturnedafterseveralhoursinalteredspirits.Liliacongratulatedherselfonhergoodmanagement.
“I’mready,too,forpeoplenow,”shesaid.“Imeantowakeyouallup,justasIwokeupSawston.Let’shaveplentyofmen—andmakethembringtheirwomenkind.ImeantohaverealEnglishtea-parties.”
“ThereismyauntandherhusbandbutIthoughtyoudidnotwanttoreceivemyrelatives.”
“Ineversaidsucha—”
“Butyouwouldberight,”hesaidearnestly.“Theyarenotforyou.Manyofthemareintrade,andevenwearelittlemoreyoushouldhavegentlefolkandnobilityforyourfriends.”
“Poorfellow,”thoughtLilia.“Itissadforhimtodiscoverthathispeoplearevulgar.”Shebegantotellhimthatshelovedhimjustforhissillyself,andheflushedandbegantuggingathismoustache.
“ButbesidesyourrelativesImusthaveotherpeoplehere.Yourfriendshavewivesandsisters,haven’tthey?”
“Oh,yesbutofcourseIscarcelyknowthem.”
“Notknowyourfriends’people?”
“Why,no.IftheyarepoorandhavetoworkfortheirlivingImayseethem—butnototherwise.Except—”Hestopped.Thechiefexceptionwasayounglady,towhomhehadoncebeenintroducedformat