“Mad!”screamedHarriet,—“absolutelystark,staring,ravingmad!”
Philipjudgeditbetternottocontradicther.
“What’ssheherefor?Answermethat.What’sshedoinginMonterianoinAugust?Whyisn’tsheinNormandy?Answerthat.Shewon’t.Ican:she’scometothwartusshe’sbetrayedus—gotholdofmother’splans.Oh,goodness,myhead!”
Hewasunwiseenoughtoreply,“Youmustn’taccuseherofthat.Thoughsheisexasperating,shehasn’tcomeheretobetrayus.”
“Thenwhyhasshecomehere?Answermethat.”
Hemadenoanswer.Butfortunatelyhissisterwastoomuchagitatedtowaitforone.“Burstinginonme—cryingandlookingadisgustingsight—andsaysshehasbeentoseetheItalian.Couldn’teventalkproperlypretendedshehadchangedheropinions.Whatareheropinionstous?Iwasverycalm.Isaid:‘MissAbbott,Ithinkthereisalittlemisapprehensioninthismatter.Mymother,Mrs.Herriton—’Oh,goodness,myhead!Ofcourseyou’vefailed—don’ttroubletoanswer—Iknowyou’vefailed.Where’sthebaby,pray?Ofcourseyouhaven’tgotit.DearsweetCarolinewon’tletyou.Oh,yes,andwe’retogoawayatonceandtroublethefathernomore.Thosearehercommands.Commands!COMMANDS!”AndHarrietalsoburstintotears.
Philipgovernedhistemper.Hissisterwasannoying,butquitereasonableinherindignation.Moreover,MissAbbotthadbehavedevenworsethanshesupposed.
“I’venotgotthebaby,Harriet,butatthesametimeIhaven’texactlyfailed.IandSignorCarellaaretohaveanotherinterviewthisafternoon,attheCaffeGaribaldi.Heisperfectlyreasonableandpleasant.Shouldyoubedisposedtocomewithme,youwouldfindhimquitewillingtodiscussthings.Heisdesperatelyinwantofmoney,andhasnoprospectofgettingany.Idiscoveredthat.Atthesametime,hehasacertainaffectionforthechild.”ForPhilip’sinsight,orperhapshisopportunities,hadnotbeenequaltoMissAbbott’s.
Harrietwouldonlysob,andaccuseherbrotherofinsultingherhowcouldaladyspeaktosuchahorribleman?That,andnothingelse,wasenoughtostampCaroline.Oh,poorLilia!
Philipdrummedonthebedroomwindow-sill.Hesawnoescapefromthedeadlock.ForthoughhespokecheerfullyabouthissecondinterviewwithGino,hefeltatthebottomofhisheartthatitwouldfail.Ginowastoocourteous:hewouldnotbreakoffnegotiationsbysharpdenialhelovedthiscivil,half-humorousbargaining.Andhelovedfoolinghisopponent,anddiditsonicelythathisopponentdidnotmindbeingfooled.
“MissAbbotthasbehavedextraordinarily,”hesaidatlast“butatthesametime—”
Hissisterwouldnothearhim.Sheburstforthagainonthemadness,theinterference,theintolerableduplicityofCaroline.
“Harriet,youmustlisten.Mydear,youmuststopcrying.Ihavesomethingquiteimportanttosay.”
“Ishallnotstopcrying,”saidshe.Butintime,findingthathewouldnotspeaktoher,shedidstop.
“RememberthatMissAbbotthasdoneusnoharm.Shesaidnothingtohimaboutthematter.Heassumesthatsheisworkingwithus:Igatheredthat.”
“Well,sheisn’t.”
“Yesbutifyou’recarefulshemaybe.Iinterpretherbehaviourthus:Shewenttoseehim,honestlyintendingtogetthechildaway.Inthenotesheleftmeshesaysso,andIdon’tbelieveshe’dlie.”
“Ido.”
“Whenshegotthere,therewassomepr