Shesuggested,withgentlesarcasm,thatperhapshehadgonetoPoggibonsitofindsomethingtodo.
Heintimatedthatitwasnotasimportantasallthat.Somethingtodo—analmosthopelessquest!“Emancaquesto!”Herubbedhisthumbandforefingertogether,toindicatethathehadnomoney.Thenhesighed,andblewanothersmoke-ring.MissAbbotttookheartandturneddiplomatic.
“Thishouse,”shesaid,“isalargehouse.”
“Exactly,”washisgloomyreply.“Andwhenmypoorwifedied—”Hegotup,wentin,andwalkedacrossthelandingtothereception-roomdoor,whichheclosedreverently.Thenheshutthedooroftheliving-roomwithhisfoot,returnedbrisklytohisseat,andcontinuedhissentence.“WhenmypoorwifediedIthoughtofhavingmyrelativestolivehere.MyfatherwishedtogiveuphispracticeatEmpolimymotherandsistersandtwoauntswerealsowilling.Butitwasimpossible.Theyhavetheirwaysofdoingthings,andwhenIwasyoungerIwascontentwiththem.ButnowIamaman.Ihavemyownways.Doyouunderstand?”
“Yes,Ido,”saidMissAbbott,thinkingofherowndearfather,whosetricksandhabits,aftertwenty-fiveyearsspentintheircompany,werebeginningtogetonhernerves.Sheremembered,though,thatshewasnotheretosympathizewithGino—atallevents,nottoshowthatshesympathized.Shealsoremindedherselfthathewasnotworthyofsympathy.“Itisalargehouse,”sherepeated.
“Immenseandthetaxes!Butitwillbebetterwhen—Ah!butyouhaveneverguessedwhyIwenttoPoggibonsi—whyitwasthatIwasoutwhenhecalled.”
“Icannotguess,SignorCarella.Iamhereonbusiness.”
“Buttry.”
“IcannotIhardlyknowyou.”
“Butweareoldfriends,”hesaid,“andyourapprovalwillbegratefultome.Yougaveitmeoncebefore.Willyougiveitnow?”
“Ihavenotcomeasafriendthistime,”sheansweredstiffly.“Iamnotlikely,SignorCarella,toapproveofanythingyoudo.”
“Oh,Signorina!”Helaughed,asifhefoundherpiquantandamusing.“Surelyyouapproveofmarriage?”
“Wherethereislove,”saidMissAbbott,lookingathimhard.Hisfacehadalteredinthelastyear,butnotfortheworse,whichwasbaffling.
“Wherethereislove,”saidhe,politelyechoingtheEnglishview.Thenhesmiledonher,expectingcongratulations.
“DoIunderstandthatyouareproposingtomarryagain?”
Henodded.
“Iforbidyou,then!”
Helookedpuzzled,buttookitforsomeforeignbanter,andlaughed.
“Iforbidyou!”repeated