aglorious,unquestionablefact,whichamanandanotherwomanhadgiventotheworld.Youcouldtalktoitintimeitwouldansweryouintimeitwouldnotansweryouunlessitchose,butwouldsecrete,withinthecompassofitsbody,thoughtsandwonderfulpassionsofitsown.AndthiswasthemachineonwhichsheandMrs.HerritonandPhilipandHarriethadforthelastmonthbeenexercisingtheirvariousideals—haddeterminedthatintimeitshouldmovethiswayorthatway,shouldaccomplishthisandnotthat.ItwastobeLowChurch,itwastobehigh-principled,itwastobetactful,gentlemanly,artistic—excellentthingsall.Yetnowthatshesawthisbaby,lyingasleeponadirtyrug,shehadagreatdispositionnottodictateoneofthem,andtoexertnomoreinfluencethantheremaybeinakissorinthevaguestoftheheartfeltprayers.
Butshehadpractisedself-discipline,andherthoughtsandactionswerenotyettocorrespond.Torecoverherself-esteemshetriedtoimaginethatshewasinherdistrict,andtobehaveaccordingly.
“Whatafinechild,SignorCarella.Andhowniceofyoutotalktoit.ThoughIseethattheungratefullittlefellowisasleep!Sevenmonths?No,eightofcourseeight.Still,heisaremarkablyfinechildforhisage.”
Italianisabadmediumforcondescension.Thepatronizingwordscameoutgraciousandsincere,andhesmiledwithpleasure.
“Youmustnotstand.Letussitontheloggia,whereitiscool.Iamafraidtheroomisveryuntidy,”headded,withtheairofahostesswhoapologizesforastraythreadonthedrawing-roomcarpet.MissAbbottpickedherwaytothechair.Hesatnearher,astridetheparapet,withonefootintheloggiaandtheotherdanglingintotheview.Hisfacewasinprofile,anditsbeautifulcontoursdroveartfullyagainstthemistygreenoftheopposinghills.“Posing!”saidMissAbbotttoherself.“Abornartist’smodel.”
“Mr.Herritoncalledyesterday,”shebegan,“butyouwereout.”
Hestartedanelaborateandgracefulexplanation.HehadgoneforthedaytoPoggibonsi.WhyhadtheHerritonsnotwrittentohim,sothathecouldhavereceivedthemproperly?Poggibonsiwouldhavedoneanydaynotbutwhathisbusinesstherewasfairlyimportant.Whatdidshesupposethatitwas?
Naturallyshewasnotgreatlyinterested.ShehadnotcomefromSawstontoguesswhyhehadbeentoPoggibonsi.Sheansweredpolitelythatshehadnoidea,andreturnedtohermission.
“Butguess!”hepersisted,clappingthebalustradebetweenhishands.