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Chapter 6

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    tion.Toberunbyhismotherandhectoredbyhissisterwasasmuchashecouldstand.Theinterventionofathirdfemaledrovehimsuddenlybeyondpoliteness.Hewasabouttosayexactlywhathethoughtaboutthethingfrombeginningtoend.ButbeforehecoulddosoHarrietalsohadseenMissAbbott.Sheutteredashrillcryofjoy. “You,Caroline,hereofallpeople!”Andinspiteoftheheatshedartedupthestairsandimprintedanaffectionatekissuponherfriend. Philiphadaninspiration.“YouwillhavealottotellMissAbbott,Harriet,andshemayhaveasmuchtotellyou.SoI’llpaymycallonSignorCarella,asyousuggested,andseehowthingsstand.” MissAbbottutteredsomenoiseofgreetingoralarm.Hedidnotreplytoitorapproachnearertoher.Withoutevenpayingthecabman,heescapedintothestreet. “Teareachother’seyesout!”hecried,gesticulatingatthefacadeofthehotel.“Giveittoher,Harriet!Teachhertoleaveusalone.Giveittoher,Caroline!Teachhertobegratefultoyou.Goit,ladiesgoit!” Suchpeopleasobservedhimwereinterested,butdidnotconcludethathewasmad.ThisaftermathofconversationisnotunknowninItaly. Hetriedtothinkhowamusingitwasbutitwouldnotdo—MissAbbott’spresenceaffectedhimtoopersonally.Eithershesuspectedhimofdishonesty,orelseshewasbeingdishonestherself.Hepreferredtosupposethelatter.PerhapsshehadseenGino,andtheyhadpreparedsomeelaboratemortificationfortheHerritons.PerhapsGinohadsoldthebabycheaptoherforajoke:itwasjustthekindofjokethatwouldappealtohim.Philipstillrememberedthelaughterthathadgreetedhisfruitlessjourney,andtheuncouthpushthathadtoppledhimontothebed.Andwhateveritmightmean,MissAbbott’spresencespoiltthecomedy:shewoulddonothingfunny. Duringthisshortmeditationhehadwalkedthroughthecity,andwasoutontheotherside.“WheredoesSignorCarellalive?”heaskedthemenattheDogana. “I’llshowyou,”saidalittlegirl,springingoutofthegroundasItalianchildrenwill. “Shewillshowyou,”saidtheDoganamen,noddingreassuringly.“Followheralways,always,andyouwillcometonoharm.Sheisatrustworthyguide.Sheismy daughter.” cousin.” sister.” Philipknewtheserelativeswell:theyramify,ifneedbe,alloverthepeninsula. “DoyouchancetoknowwhetherSignorCarellaisin?”heaskedher. Shehadjustseenhimgoin.Philipnodded.Hewaslookingforwardtotheinterviewthistime:itwouldbeanintellectualduetwithamanofnogreatintellect.WhatwasMissAbbottupto?Thatwasoneofthethingshewasgoingtodiscover.WhileshehaditoutwithHarriet,hewouldhaveitoutwithGino.HefollowedtheDogana’srelativesoftly,likeadiplomatist. Hedidnotfollowherlong,forthiswastheVolterragate,andthehousewasexactlyoppositetoit.Inhalfaminutetheyhadscrambleddownthemule-trackandreachedtheonlypracticableentrance.Philiplaughed,partlyatthethoughtofLiliainsuchabuilding,partlyintheconfidenceofvictory.MeanwhiletheDogana’srelativelifteduphervoiceandgaveashout. Foranimpressiveintervaltherewasnoreply.Thenthefigureofawomanappearedhighupontheloggia. “ThatisPerfetta,”saidthegirl. “IwanttoseeSignorCarella,”criedPhilip. “Out!” “Out,”echoedthegirlcomplacently. “Whyonearthdidyousayhewasin?”Hecouldhavestrangledherfortemper.Hehadbeenjustripeforaninterview—justtherightcombinationofindignationandacuteness:bloodhot,braincool.ButnothingeverdidgorightinMonteriano.“Whenwillhebeback?”hecalledtoPerfetta.Itreallywastoobad. Shedidnotknow.Hewasawayonbusiness.Hemightbebackthisevening,hemightnot.HehadgonetoPoggibonsi. Atthesoundofthiswordthelittlegirlputherfingerstohernoseandsweptthemattheplain.Shesangasshedidso,evenasherforemothershadsungsevenhundredyearsback— Poggibonizzi,fattiinla, CheMonterianosifacitta! ThensheaskedPhilipforahalfpenny.AGermanlady,friendlytothePast,hadgivenheronethatveryspring. “Ishallhavetoleaveamessage,”hecalled. “NowPerfettahasgoneforherbasket,”saidthelittlegirl.“Whenshereturnsshewilllowerit—so.Thenyouwillputyourcardintoit.Thenshewillraiseit—thus.Bythismeans—” WhenPerfettareturned,Philiprememberedtoaskafterthebaby.Ittooklongertofindthanthebasket,andhestoodperspiringintheeveningsun,tryingtoavoidthesmellofthedrainsandtopreventthelittlegirlfromsingingagainstPoggibonsi.Theolive-treesbesidehimweredrapedwiththeweekly—ormoreprobablythemonthly—wash.Whatafrightfulspottyblouse!He
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