Ataboutnineo’clocknextmorningPerfettawentoutontotheloggia,nottolookattheview,buttothrowsomedirtywateratit.“Scusitanto!”shewailed,forthewaterspatteredatallyoungladywhohadforsometimebeentappingatthelowerdoor.
“IsSignorCarellain?”theyoungladyasked.ItwasnobusinessofPerfetta’stobeshocked,andthestyleofthevisitorseemedtodemandthereception-room.Accordinglysheopeneditsshutters,dustedaroundpatchononeofthehorsehairchairs,andbadetheladydoherselftheinconvenienceofsittingdown.ThensheranintoMonterianoandshoutedupanddownitsstreetsuntilsuchtimeasheryoungmastershouldhearher.
Thereception-roomwassacredtothedeadwife.Hershinyportraithunguponthewall—similar,doubtless,inallrespectstotheonewhichwouldbepastedonhertombstone.Alittlepieceofblackdraperyhadbeentackedabovetheframetolendadignitytowoe.Buttwoofthetackshadfallenout,andtheeffectwasnowrakish,asofadrunkard’sbonnet.Acoonsonglayopenonthepiano,andofthetwotablesonesupportedBaedeker’s“CentralItaly,”theotherHarriet’sinlaidbox.Andovereverythingtherelayadepositofheavywhitedust,whichwasonlyblownoffonemomenttothickenonanother.Itiswelltoberememberedwithlove.Itisnotsoverydreadfultobeforgottenentirely.Butifweshallresentanythingonearthatall,weshallresenttheconsecrationofadesertedroom.
MissAbbottdidnotsitdown,partlybecausetheantimacassarsmightharbourfleas,partlybecauseshehadsuddenlyfeltfaint,andwasgladtoclingontothefunnelofthestove.Shestruggledwithherself,forshehadneedtobeverycalmonlyifshewasverycalmmightherbehaviourbejustified.ShehadbrokenfaithwithPhilipandHarriet:shewasgoingtotryforthebabybeforetheydid.Ifshefailedshecouldscarcelylooktheminthefaceagain.
“Harrietandherbrother,”shereasoned,“don’trealizewhatisbeforethem.Shewouldblusterandberudehewouldbepleasantandtakeitasajoke.Bothofthem—eveniftheyofferedmoney—wouldfail.ButIbegintounderstandtheman’snaturehedoesnotlovethechild,buthewillbetouchyaboutit—andthatisquiteasbadforus.He’scharming,buthe’snofoolheconqueredmelastyearheconqueredMr.Herritonyesterday,andifIamnotcarefulhewillconquerusalltoday,andthebabywillgrowupinMonteriano.HeisterriblystrongLiliafoundthatout,butonlyIrememberitnow.”
Thisattempt,andthisjustificat