yshouldherideasdifferfromhisown?Noonerealizedthatmorethanpersonalitieswereengagedthatthestrugglewasnationalthatgenerationsofancestors,good,bad,orindifferent,forbadtheLatinmantobechivalroustothenorthernwoman,thenorthernwomantoforgivetheLatinman.Allthismighthavebeenforeseen:Mrs.Herritonforesawitfromthefirst.
MeanwhileLiliapridedherselfonherhighpersonalstandard,andGinosimplywonderedwhyshedidnotcomeround.Hehateddiscomfortandyearnedforsympathy,butshrankfrommentioninghisdifficultiesinthetownincasetheywereputdowntohisownincompetence.Spiridionewastold,andrepliedinaphilosophicalbutnotveryhelpfulletter.Hisothergreatfriend,whomhetrustedmore,wasstillservinginEritreaorsomeotherdesolateoutpost.And,besides,whatwasthegoodofletters?Friendscannottravelthroughthepost.
Lilia,sosimilartoherhusbandinmanyways,yearnedforcomfortandsympathytoo.Thenighthelaughedathershewildlytookuppaperandpenandwrotepageafterpage,analysinghischaracter,enumeratinghisiniquities,reportingwholeconversations,tracingallthecausesandthegrowthofhermisery.Shewasbesideherselfwithpassion,andthoughshecouldhardlythinkorsee,shesuddenlyattainedtomagnificenceandpathoswhichapractisedstylistmighthaveenvied.Itwaswrittenlikeadiary,andnottillitsconclusiondidsherealizeforwhomitwasmeant.
“Irma,darlingIrma,thisletterisforyou.IalmostforgotIhaveadaughter.Itwillmakeyouunhappy,butIwantyoutoknoweverything,andyoucannotlearnthingstoosoon.Godblessyou,mydearest,andsaveyou.Godblessyourmiserablemother.”
FortunatelyMrs.Herritonwasinwhentheletterarrived.Sheseizeditandopeneditinherbedroom.Anothermoment,andIrma’splacidchildhoodwouldhavebeendestroyedforever.
LiliareceivedabriefnotefromHarriet,againforbiddingdirectcommunicationbetweenmotheranddaughter,andconcludingwithformalcondolences.Itnearlydrovehermad.
“Gently!gently!”saidherhusband.Theyweresittingtogetherontheloggiawhentheletterarrived.Heoftensatwithhernow,w