licChurch,orasshecalledit,“SantaDeodata’s.”Ginoapprovedhe,too,thoughtitsafer,anditwasfunconfessing,thoughthepriestwasastupidoldman,andthewholethingwasagoodslapinthefaceforthepeopleathome.
Thepeopleathometooktheslapverysoberlyindeed,therewerefewleftforhertogiveitto.TheHerritonswereoutofthequestiontheywouldnotevenletherwritetoIrma,thoughIrmawasoccasionallyallowedtowritetoher.Mrs.Theobaldwasrapidlysubsidingintodotage,and,asfarasshecouldbedefiniteaboutanything,haddefinitelysidedwiththeHerritons.AndMissAbbottdidlikewise.NightafternightdidLiliacursethisfalsefriend,whohadagreedwithherthatthemarriagewould“do,”andthattheHerritonswouldcomeroundtoit,andthen,atthefirsthintofopposition,hadfledbacktoEnglandshriekinganddistraught.MissAbbottheadedthelonglistofthosewhoshouldneverbewrittento,andwhoshouldneverbeforgiven.AlmosttheonlypersonwhowasnotonthatlistwasMr.Kingcroft,whohadunexpectedlysentanaffectionateandinquiringletter.HewasquitesurenevertocrosstheChannel,andLiliadrewfreelyonherfancyinthereply.
AtfirstshehadseenafewEnglishpeople,forMonterianowasnottheendoftheearth.Oneortwoinquisitiveladies,whohadheardathomeofherquarrelwiththeHerritons,cametocall.Shewasverysprightly,andtheythoughtherquiteunconventional,andGinoacharmingboy,soallthatwastothegood.ButbyMaytheseason,suchasitwas,hadfinished,andtherewouldbenoonetillnextspring.AsMrs.Herritonhadoftenobserved,Liliahadnoresources.Shedidnotlikemusic,orreading,orwork.Heronequalificationforlifewasratherblowsyhighspirits,whichturnedquerulousorboisterousaccordingtocircumstances.Shewasnotobedient,butshewascowardly,andinthemostgentleway,whichMrs.Herritonmighthaveenvied,Ginomadeherdowhathewanted.Atfirstithadbeenratherfuntolethimgettheupperhand.Butitwasgallingtodiscoverthathecouldnotdootherwise.Hehadagoodstrongwillwhenhechosetouseit,andwouldnothavehadtheleastscrupleinusingboltsandlockstoputitintoeffect.Therewasplentyofbru