ButMr。Emerson，contriteandunhappy，hurriedawaytoapologizetotheRev。CuthbertEager。Lucy，apparentlyabsorbedinalunette，couldhearthelectureagaininterrupted，theanxious，aggressivevoiceoftheoldman，thecurt，injuredrepliesofhisopponent。Theson，whotookeverylittlecontretempsasifitwereatragedy，waslisteningalso。
\"Myfatherhasthateffectonnearlyeveryone，\"heinformedher。
\"Hewilltrytobekind。”
\"Ihopewealltry，\"saidshe，smilingnervously。
\"Becausewethinkitimprovesourcharacters。Butheiskindtopeoplebecausehelovesthem；andtheyfindhimout，andareoffended，orfrightened。”
\"Howsillyofthem!\"saidLucy，thoughinherheartshesympathized；\"Ithinkthatakindactiondonetactfully——\"
\"Tact!\"
Hethrewuphisheadindisdain。Apparentlyshehadgiventhewronganswer。Shewatchedthesingularcreaturepaceupanddownthechapel。Forayoungmanhisfacewasrugged，and——untiltheshadowsfelluponit——hard。Enshadowed，itsprangintotenderness。ShesawhimonceagainatRome，ontheceilingoftheSistineChapel，carryingaburdenofacorns。Healthyandmuscular，heyetgaveherthefeelingofgreyness，oftragedythatmightonlyfindsolutioninthenight。Thefeelingsoonpassed；itwasunlikehertohaveentertainedanythingsosubtle。
Bornofsilenceandofunknownemotion，itpassedwhenMr。
Emersonreturned，andshecouldre-entertheworldofrapidtalk，whichwasalonefamiliartoher。
\"Wereyousnubbed？\"askedhissontranquilly。
\"ButwehavespoiltthepleasureofIdon\'tknowhowmanypeople。
Theywon\'tcomeback。”
\"……fullofinnatesympathy……quicknesstoperceivegoodinothers……visionofthebrotherhoodofman……”ScrapsofthelectureonSt。Franciscamefloatingroundthepartitionwall。
\"Don\'tletusspoilyours，\"hecontinuedtoLucy。\"Haveyoulookedatthosesaints？\"
\"Yes，\"saidLucy。\"Theyarelovely。DoyouknowwhichisthetombstonethatispraisedinRuskin？\"
Hedidnotknow，andsuggestedthattheyshouldtrytoguessit。
George，rathertoherrelief，refusedtomove，andsheandtheoldmanwanderednotunpleasantlyaboutSantaCroce，which，thoughitislikeabarn，hasharvestedmanybeautifulthingsinsideitswalls。Therewerealsobeggarstoavoid。andguidestododgeroundthepillars，andanoldladywithherdog，andhereandthereapriestmodestlyedgingtohisMassthroughthegroupsoftourists。ButMr。Emersonwasonlyhalfinterested。Hewatchedthelecturer，whosesuccesshebelievedhehadimpaired，andthenheanxiouslywatchedhisson。
\"Whywillhelookatthatfresco？\"hesaiduneasily。\"Isawnothinginit。”
\"IlikeGiotto，\"shereplied。\"Itissowonderfulwhattheysayabouthistactilevalues。ThoughIlikethingsliketheDellaRobbiababiesbetter。”
\"Soyouought。Ababyisworthadozensaints。Andmybaby\'sworththewholeofParadise，andasfarasIcanseehelivesinHell。”
Lucyagainfeltthatthisdidnotdo。
\"InHell，\"herepeated。\"He\'sunhappy。”
\"Oh，dear!\"saidLucy。
\"Howcanhebeunhappywhenheisstrongandalive？Whatmoreisonetogivehim？Andthinkhowhehasbeenbroughtup——freefromallthesuperstitionandignorancethatleadmentohateoneanotherinthenameofGod。Withsuchaneducationasthat，I
thoughthewasboundtogrowuphappy。”
Shewasnotheologian，butshefeltthatherewasaveryfoolisholdman，aswellasaveryirreligiousone。Shealsofeltthathermothermightnotlikehertalkingtothatkindofperson，andthatCharlottewouldobjectmoststrongly。
\"Whatarewetodowithhim？\"heasked。\"HecomesoutforhisholidaytoItaly，andbehaves——likethat；likethelittlechildwhooughttohavebeenplaying，andwhohurthimselfuponthetombstone。Eh？Whatdidyousay？\"
Lucyhadmadenosuggestion。Suddenlyhesaid:
\"Nowdon\'tbestupidoverthis。Idon\'trequireyoutofallinlovewithmyboy，butIdothinkyoumighttryandunderstandhim。Youarenearerhisage，andifyouletyourselfgoIamsureyouaresensible。Youmighthelpme。Hehasknownsofewwomen，andyouhavethetime。Youstophereseveralweeks，Isuppose？
Butletyourselfgo。Youareinclinedtogetmuddled，ifImayjudgefromlastnight。Letyourselfgo。Pulloutfromthedepthsthosethoughtsthatyoudonotunderstand，andspreadthemoutinthesunlightandknowthemeaningofthem。ByunderstandingGeorgeyoumaylearntounderstandyourself。Itwillbegoodforbothofyou。”
TothisextraordinaryspeechLucyfoundnoanswer。
\"Ionlyknowwhatitisthat\'swrongwithhim；notwhyitis。”
\"Andwhatisit？\"askedLucyfearfully，expectingsomeharrowingtale。
\"Theoldtrouble；thingswon\'tfit。”
\"Whatthings？\"
\"Thethingsoftheuniverse。Itisquitetrue。Theydon\'t。”
\"Oh，Mr。Emerson，whateverdoyoumean？\"
Inhisordinaryvoice，sothatshescarcelyrealizedhewasquotingpoetry，hesaid:
\"\'Fromfar，fromeveandmorning，Andyontwelve-windedsky，ThestuffoflifetoknitmeBlewhither:hereamI\'
GeorgeandIbothknowthis，butwhydoesitdistresshim？Weknowthatwecomefromthewinds，andthatweshallreturntothem；thatalllifeisperhapsaknot，atangle，ablemishintheeternalsmoothness。Butwhyshouldthismakeusunhappy？Letusratherloveoneanother，andworkandrejoice。Idon\'tbelieveinthisworldsorrow。”
MissHoneychurchassented。
\"Thenmakemyboythinklikeus。MakehimrealizethatbythesideoftheeverlastingWhythereisaYes——atransitoryYesifyoulike，butaYes。”
Suddenlyshelaughed；surelyoneoughttolaugh。Ayoungmanmelancholybecausetheuniversewouldn\'tfit，becauselifewasatangleorawind，oraYes，orsomething!
\"I\'mverysorry，\"shecried。\"You\'llthinkmeunfeeling，but——but——\"Thenshebecamematronly。\"Oh，butyoursonwantsemployment。
Hashenoparticularhobby？Why，Imyselfhaveworries，butIcangenerallyforgetthematthepiano；andcollectingstampsdidnoendofgoodformybrother。PerhapsItalyboreshim；yououghttotrytheAlpsortheLakes。”
Theoldman\'sfacesaddened，andhetouchedhergentlywithhishand。Thisdidnotalarmher；shethoughtthatheradvicehadimpressedhimandthathewasthankingherforit。Indeed，henolongeralarmedheratall；sheregardedhimasakindthing，butquitesilly。Herfeelingswereasinflatedspirituallyastheyhadbeenanhouragoesthetically，beforeshelostBaedeker。ThedearGeorge，nowstridingtowardsthemoverthetombstones，seemedbothpitiableandabsurd。Heapproached，hisfaceintheshadow。Hesaid:
\"MissBartlett。”
\"Oh，goodgraciousme!\"saidLucy，suddenlycollapsingandagainseeingthewholeoflifeinanewperspective。\"Where？Where？\"
\"Inthenave。”
\"Isee。ThosegossipinglittleMissAlansmusthave——\"Shecheckedherself。
\"Poorgirl!\"explodedMr。Emerson。\"Poorgirl!\"
Shecouldnotletthispass，foritwasjustwhatshewasfeelingherself。
\"Poorgirl？Ifailtounderstandthepointofthatremark。I
thinkmyselfaveryfortunategirl，Iassureyou。I\'mthoroughlyhappy，andhavingasplendidtime。Praydon\'twastetimemourningoverme。There\'senoughsorrowintheworld，isn\'tthere，withouttryingtoinventit。Good-bye。Thankyoubothsomuchforallyourkindness。Ah，yes!theredoescomemycousin。Adelightfulmorning!SantaCroceisawonderfulchurch。”
Shejoinedhercousin。
ChapterIII:Music，Violets，andtheLetter\"S\"
ItsohappenedthatLucy，whofounddailyliferatherchaotic，enteredamoresolidworldwhensheopenedthepiano。Shewasthennolongereitherdeferentialorpatronizing；nolongereitherarebeloraslave。Thekingdomofmusicisnotthekingdomofthisworld；itwillacceptthosewhombreedingandintellectandculturehavealikerejected。Thecommonplacepersonbeginstoplay，andshootsintotheempyreanwithouteffort，whilstwelookup，marvellinghowhehasescapedus，andthinkinghowwecouldworshiphimandlovehim，wouldhebuttranslatehisvisionsintohumanwords，andhisexperiencesintohumanactions。
Perhapshecannot；certainlyhedoesnot，ordoessoveryseldom。
Lucyhaddonesonever。
Shewasnodazzlingexecutante；herrunswerenotatalllikestringsofpearls，andshestrucknomorerightnotesthanwassuitableforoneofherageandsituation。Norwasshethepassionateyounglady，whoperformssotragicallyonasummer\'seveningwiththewindowopen。Passionwasthere，butitcouldnotbeeasilylabelled；itslippedbetweenloveandhatredandjealousy，andallthefurnitureofthepictorialstyle。Andshewastragicalonlyinthesensethatshewasgreat，forshelovedtoplayonthesideofVictory。Victoryofwhatandoverwhat——
thatismorethanthewordsofdailylifecantellus。ButthatsomesonatasofBeethovenarewrittentragicnoonecangainsay；
yettheycantriumphordespairastheplayerdecides，andLucyhaddecidedthattheyshouldtriumph。
AverywetafternoonattheBertolinipermittedhertodothethingshereallyliked，andafterlunchsheopenedthelittledrapedpiano。Afewpeoplelingeredroundandpraisedherplaying，butfindingthatshemadenoreply，dispersedtotheirroomstowriteuptheirdiariesortosleep。ShetooknonoticeofMr。Emersonlookingforhisson，norofMissBartlettlookingforMissLavish，norofMissLavishlookingforhercigarette-case。Likeeverytrueperformer，shewasintoxicatedbythemerefeelofthenotes:theywerefingerscaressingherown；
andbytouch，notbysoundalone，didshecometoherdesire。
Mr。Beebe，sittingunnoticedinthewindow，ponderedthisillogicalelementinMissHoneychurch，andrecalledtheoccasionatTunbridgeWellswhenhehaddiscoveredit。Itwasatoneofthoseentertainmentswheretheupperclassesentertainthelower。
Theseatswerefilledwitharespectfulaudience，andtheladiesandgentlemenoftheparish，undertheauspicesoftheirvicar，sang，orrecited，orimitatedthedrawingofachampagnecork。
Amongthepromiseditemswas\"MissHoneychurch。Piano。
Beethoven，\"andMr。BeebewaswonderingwhetheritwouldbeAdelaida，orthemarchofTheRuinsofAthens，whenhiscomposurewasdisturbedbytheopeningbarsofOpusIII。Hewasinsuspenseallthroughtheintroduction，fornotuntilthepacequickensdoesoneknowwhattheperformerintends。Withtheroaroftheopeningthemeheknewthatthingsweregoingextraordinarily；inthechordsthatheraldtheconclusionheheardthehammerstrokesofvictory。Hewasgladthatsheonlyplayedthefirstmovement，forhecouldhavepaidnoattentiontothewindingintricaciesofthemeasuresofnine-sixteen。Theaudienceclapped，nolessrespectful。ItwasMr。Beebewhostartedthestamping；itwasallthatonecoulddo。
\"Whoisshe？\"heaskedthevicarafterwards。
\"Cousinofoneofmyparishioners。Idonotconsiderherchoiceofapiecehappy。Beethovenissousuallysimpleanddirectinhisappealthatitissheerperversitytochooseathinglikethat，which，ifanything，disturbs。”
\"Introduceme。”
\"Shewillbedelighted。SheandMissBartlettarefullofthepraisesofyoursermon。”
\"Mysermon？\"criedMr。Beebe。\"Whyeverdidshelistentoit？\"
Whenhewasintroducedheunderstoodwhy，forMissHoneychurch，disjoinedfromhermusicstool，wasonlyayoungladywithaquantityofdarkhairandaverypretty，pale，undevelopedface。
Shelovedgoingtoconcerts，shelovedstoppingwithhercousin，shelovedicedcoffeeandmeringues。Hedidnotdoubtthatshelovedhissermonalso。ButbeforeheleftTunbridgeWellshemadearemarktothevicar，whichhenowmadetoLucyherselfwhensheclosedthelittlepianoandmoveddreamilytowardshim:
\"IfMissHoneychurchevertakestoliveassheplays，itwillbeveryexcitingbothforusandforher。”
Lucyatoncere-entereddailylife。
\"Oh，whatafunnything!Someonesaidjustthesametomother，andshesaidshetrustedIshouldneverliveaduet。”
\"Doesn\'tMrs。Honeychurchlikemusic？\"
\"Shedoesn\'tmindit。Butshedoesn\'tlikeonetogetexcitedoveranything；shethinksIamsillyaboutit。Shethinks——I
can\'tmakeout。Once，youknow，IsaidthatIlikedmyownplayingbetterthananyone\'s。Shehasnevergotoverit。Ofcourse，Ididn\'tmeanthatIplayedwell；Ionlymeant——\"
\"Ofcourse，\"saidhe，wonderingwhyshebotheredtoexplain。
\"Music——\"saidLucy，asifattemptingsomegenerality。Shecouldnotcompleteit，andlookedoutabsentlyuponItalyinthewet。
ThewholelifeoftheSouthwasdisorganized，andthemostgracefulnationinEuropehadturnedintoformlesslumpsofclothes。
Thestreetandtheriverweredirtyyellow，thebridgewasdirtygrey，andthehillsweredirtypurple。SomewhereintheirfoldswereconcealedMissLavishandMissBartlett，whohadchosenthisafternoontovisittheTorredelGallo。
\"Whataboutmusic？\"saidMr。Beebe。
\"PoorCharlottewillbesopped，\"wasLucy\'sreply。
TheexpeditionwastypicalofMissBartlett，whowouldreturncold，tired，hungry，andangelic，witharuinedskirt，apulpyBaedeker，andaticklingcoughinherthroat。Onanotherday，whenthewholeworldwassingingandtheairranintothemouth。
likewine，shewouldrefusetostirfromthedrawing-room，sayingthatshewasanoldthing，andnofitcompanionforaheartygirl。
\"MissLavishhasledyourcousinastray。ShehopestofindthetrueItalyinthewetIbelieve。”
\"MissLavishissooriginal，\"murmuredLucy。Thiswasastockremark，thesupremeachievementofthePensionBertoliniinthewayofdefinition。MissLavishwassooriginal。Mr。Beebehadhisdoubts，buttheywouldhavebeenputdowntoclericalnarrowness。
Forthat，andforotherreasons，heheldhispeace。
\"Isittrue，\"continuedLucyinawe-strucktone，\"thatMissLavishiswritingabook？\"
\"Theydosayso。”
\"Whatisitabout？\"
\"Itwillbeanovel，\"repliedMr。Beebe，\"dealingwithmodernItaly。LetmereferyouforanaccounttoMissCatharineAlan，whouseswordsherselfmoreadmirablythananyoneIknow。”
\"IwishMissLavishwouldtellmeherself。Westartedsuchfriends。ButIdon\'tthinksheoughttohaverunawaywithBaedekerthatmorninginSantaCroce。Charlottewasmostannoyedatfindingmepracticallyalone，andsoIcouldn\'thelpbeingalittleannoyedwithMissLavish。”
\"Thetwoladies，atallevents，havemadeitup。”
HewasinterestedinthesuddenfriendshipbetweenwomensoapparentlydissimilarasMissBartlettandMissLavish。Theywerealwaysineachother\'scompany，withLucyaslightedthird。MissLavishhebelievedheunderstood，butMissBartlettmightrevealunknowndepthsofstrangeness，thoughnotperhaps，ofmeaning。
WasItalydeflectingherfromthepathofprimchaperon，whichhehadassignedtoheratTunbridgeWells？Allhislifehehadlovedtostudymaidenladies；theywerehisspecialty，andhisprofessionhadprovidedhimwithampleopportunitiesforthework。GirlslikeLucywerecharmingtolookat，butMr。Beebewas，fromratherprofoundreasons，somewhatchillyinhisattitudetowardstheothersex，andpreferredtobeinterestedratherthanenthralled。
Lucy，forthethirdtime，saidthatpoorCharlottewouldbesopped。TheArnowasrisinginflood，washingawaythetracesofthelittlecartsupontheforeshore。Butinthesouth-westtherehadappearedadullhazeofyellow，whichmightmeanbetterweatherifitdidnotmeanworse。Sheopenedthewindowtoinspect，andacoldblastenteredtheroom，drawingaplaintivecryfromMissCatharineAlan，whoenteredatthesamemomentbythedoor。
\"Oh，dearMissHoneychurch，youwillcatchachill!AndMr。Beebeherebesides。WhowouldsupposethisisItaly？Thereismysisteractuallynursingthehot-watercan；nocomfortsorproperprovisions。”
Shesidledtowardsthemandsatdown，self-consciousasshealwayswasonenteringaroomwhichcontainedoneman，oramanandonewoman。
\"Icouldhearyourbeautifulplaying，MissHoneychurch，thoughI
wasinmyroomwiththedoorshut。Doorsshut；indeed，mostnecessary。Noonehastheleastideaofprivacyinthiscountry。
Andonepersoncatchesitfromanother。”
Lucyansweredsuitably。Mr。BeebewasnotabletotelltheladiesofhisadventureatModena，wherethechambermaidburstinuponhiminhisbath，exclaimingcheerfully，\"Faniente，sonovecchia。”Hecontentedhimselfwithsaying:\"Iquiteagreewithyou，MissAlan。TheItaliansareamostunpleasantpeople。Theypryeverywhere，theyseeeverything，andtheyknowwhatwewantbeforeweknowitourselves。Weareattheirmercy。Theyreadourthoughts，theyforetellourdesires。Fromthecab-driverdownto——toGiotto，theyturnusinsideout，andIresentit。Yetintheirheartofheartstheyare——howsuperficial!Theyhavenoconceptionoftheintellectuallife。HowrightisSignoraBertolini，whoexclaimedtometheotherday:\'Ho，Mr。Beebe，ifyouknewwhatIsufferoverthechildren\'sedjucaishion。HI
won\'t\'avemylittleVictoriertaughtbyahignorantItalianwhatcan\'texplainnothink!\'\"
MissAlandidnotfollow，butgatheredthatshewasbeingmockedinanagreeableway。HersisterwasalittledisappointedinMr。
Beebe，havingexpectedbetterthingsfromaclergymanwhoseheadwasbaldandwhoworeapairofrussetwhiskers。Indeed，whowouldhavesupposedthattolerance，sympathy，andasenseofhumourwouldinhabitthatmilitantform？
Inthemidstofhersatisfactionshecontinuedtosidle，andatlastthecausewasdisclosed。Fromthechairbeneathhersheextractedagun-metalcigarette-case，onwhichwerepowderedinturquoisetheinitials\"E。L。”
\"ThatbelongstoLavish。”saidtheclergyman。\"Agoodfellow，Lavish，butIwishshe\'dstartapipe。”
\"Oh，Mr。Beebe，\"saidMissAlan，dividedbetweenaweandmirth。
\"Indeed，thoughitisdreadfulforhertosmoke，itisnotquiteasdreadfulasyousuppose。Shetooktoit，practicallyindespair，afterherlife\'sworkwascarriedawayinalandslip。
Surelythatmakesitmoreexcusable。”
\"Whatwasthat？\"askedLucy。
Mr。Beebesatbackcomplacently，andMissAlanbeganasfollows:
\"Itwasanovel——andIamafraid，fromwhatIcangather，notaverynicenovel。Itissosadwhenpeoplewhohaveabilitiesmisusethem，andImustsaytheynearlyalwaysdo。Anyhow，sheleftitalmostfinishedintheGrottooftheCalvaryattheCapucciniHotelatAmalfiwhileshewentforalittleink。Shesaid:\'CanIhavealittleink，please？\'ButyouknowwhatItaliansare，andmeanwhiletheGrottofellroaringontothebeach，andthesaddestthingofallisthatshecannotrememberwhatshehaswritten。Thepoorthingwasveryillafterit，andsogottemptedintocigarettes。Itisagreatsecret，butIamgladtosaythatsheiswritinganothernovel。ShetoldTeresaandMissPoletheotherdaythatshehadgotupallthelocalcolour——thisnovelistobeaboutmodernItaly；theotherwashistorical——butthatshecouldnotstarttillshehadanidea。
FirstshetriedPerugiaforaninspiration，thenshecamehere——
thismustonnoaccountgetround。Andsocheerfulthroughitall!Icannothelpthinkingthatthereissomethingtoadmireineveryone，evenifyoudonotapproveofthem。”
MissAlanwasalwaysthusbeingcharitableagainstherbetterjudgment。Adelicatepathosperfumedherdisconnectedremarks，givingthemunexpectedbeauty，justasinthedecayingautumnwoodstheresometimesriseodoursreminiscentofspring。Shefeltshehadmadealmosttoomanyallowances，andapologizedhurriedlyforhertoleration。
\"Allthesame，sheisalittletoo——Ihardlyliketosayunwomanly，butshebehavedmoststrangelywhentheEmersonsarrived。”
Mr。BeebesmiledasMissAlanplungedintoananecdotewhichheknewshewouldbeunabletofinishinthepresenceofagentleman。
\"Idon\'tknow，MissHoneychurch，ifyouhavenoticedthatMissPole，theladywhohassomuchyellowhair，takeslemonade。ThatoldMr。Emerson，whoputsthingsverystrangely——\"
Herjawdropped。Shewassilent。Mr。Beebe，whosesocialresourceswereendless，wentouttoordersometea，andshecontinuedtoLucyinahastywhisper:
\"Stomach。HewarnedMissPoleofherstomach-acidity，hecalledit——andhemayhavemeanttobekind。ImustsayIforgotmyselfandlaughed；itwassosudden。AsTeresatrulysaid，itwasnolaughingmatter。ButthepointisthatMissLavishwaspositivelyATTRACTEDbyhismentioningS。，andsaidshelikedplainspeaking，andmeetingdifferentgradesofthought。Shethoughttheywerecommercialtravellers——\'drummers\'wasthewordsheused——andallthroughdinnershetriedtoprovethatEngland，ourgreatandbelovedcountry，restsonnothingbutcommerce。Teresawasverymuchannoyed，andleftthetablebeforethecheese，sayingasshedidso:\'There，MissLavish，isonewhocanconfuteyoubetterthanI，\'andpointedtothatbeautifulpictureofLordTennyson。ThenMissLavishsaid:\'Tut!TheearlyVictorians。\'
Justimagine!\'Tut!TheearlyVictorians。\'Mysisterhadgone，andIfeltboundtospeak。Isaid:\'MissLavish，IamanearlyVictorian；atleast，thatistosay，IwillhearnobreathofcensureagainstourdearQueen。\'Itwashorriblespeaking。I
remindedherhowtheQueenhadbeentoIrelandwhenshedidnotwanttogo，andImustsayshewasdumbfounded，andmadenoreply。But，unluckily，Mr。Emersonoverheardthispart，andcalledinhisdeepvoice:\'Quiteso，quiteso!IhonourthewomanforherIrishvisit。\'Thewoman!Itellthingssobadly；butyouseewhatatanglewewereinbythistime，allonaccountofS。
havingbeenmentionedinthefirstplace。Butthatwasnotall。
AfterdinnerMissLavishactuallycameupandsaid:\'MissAlan，I
amgoingintothesmoking-roomtotalktothosetwonicemen。
Come，too。\'Needlesstosay，Irefusedsuchanunsuitableinvitation，andshehadtheimpertinencetotellmethatitwouldbroadenmyideas，andsaidthatshehadfourbrothers，allUniversitymen，exceptonewhowasinthearmy，whoalwaysmadeapointoftalkingtocommercialtravellers。”
\"Letmefinishthestory，\"saidMr。Beebe，whohadreturned。
\"MissLavishtriedMissPole，myself，everyone，andfinallysaid:\'Ishallgoalone。\'Shewent。Attheendoffiveminutesshereturnedunobtrusivelywithagreenbaizeboard，andbeganplayingpatience。”
\"Whateverhappened？\"criedLucy。
\"Nooneknows。Noonewilleverknow。MissLavishwillneverdaretotell，andMr。Emersondoesnotthinkitworthtelling。”
\"Mr。Beebe——oldMr。Emerson，isheniceornotnice？Idosowanttoknow。”
Mr。Beebelaughedandsuggestedthatsheshouldsettlethequestionforherself。
\"No；butitissodifficult。Sometimesheissosilly，andthenI
donotmindhim。MissAlan，whatdoyouthink？Ishenice？\"
Thelittleoldladyshookherhead，andsigheddisapprovingly。
Mr。Beebe，whomtheconversationamused，stirredherupbysaying:
\"Iconsiderthatyouareboundtoclasshimasnice，MissAlan，afterthatbusinessoftheviolets。”
\"Violets？Oh，dear!Whotoldyouabouttheviolets？Howdothingsgetround？Apensionisabadplaceforgossips。No，IcannotforgethowtheybehavedatMr。Eager\'slectureatSantaCroce。
Oh，poorMissHoneychurch!Itreallywastoobad。No，Ihavequitechanged。IdoNOTliketheEmersons。Theyarenotnice。”
Mr。Beebesmilednonchalantly。HehadmadeagentleefforttointroducetheEmersonsintoBertolinisociety，andtheefforthadfailed。Hewasalmosttheonlypersonwhoremainedfriendlytothem。MissLavish，whorepresentedintellect，wasavowedlyhostile，andnowtheMissAlans，whostoodforgoodbreeding，werefollowingher。MissBartlett，smartingunderanobligation，wouldscarcelybecivil。ThecaseofLucywasdifferent。ShehadgivenhimahazyaccountofheradventuresinSantaCroce，andhegatheredthatthetwomenhadmadeacuriousandpossiblyconcertedattempttoannexher，toshowhertheworldfromtheirownstrangestandpoint，tointerestherintheirprivatesorrowsandjoys。Thiswasimpertinent；hedidnotwishtheircausetobechampionedbyayounggirl:hewouldratheritshouldfail。Afterall，heknewnothingaboutthem，andpensionjoys，pensionsorrows，areflimsythings；whereasLucywouldbehisparishioner。
Lucy，withoneeyeupontheweather，finallysaidthatshethoughttheEmersonswerenice；notthatshesawanythingofthemnow。Eventheirseatsatdinnerhadbeenmoved。
\"Butaren\'ttheyalwayswaylayingyoutogooutwiththem，dear？\"
saidthelittleladyinquisitively。
\"Onlyonce。Charlottedidn\'tlikeit，andsaidsomething——quitepolitely，ofcourse。”
\"Mostrightofher。Theydon\'tunderstandourways。Theymustfindtheirlevel。”
Mr。Beeberatherfeltthattheyhadgoneunder。Theyhadgivenuptheirattempt——ifitwasone——toconquersociety，andnowthefatherwasalmostassilentastheson。Hewonderedwhetherhewouldnotplanapleasantdayforthesefolkbeforetheyleft——
someexpedition，perhaps，withLucywellchaperonedtobenicetothem。ItwasoneofMr。Beebe\'schiefpleasurestoprovidepeoplewithhappymemories。
Eveningapproachedwhiletheychatted；theairbecamebrighter；
thecoloursonthetreesandhillswerepurified，andtheArnolostitsmuddysolidityandbegantotwinkle。Therewereafewstreaksofbluish-greenamongtheclouds，afewpatchesofwaterylightupontheearth，andthenthedrippingfacadeofSanMiniatoshonebrilliantlyinthedecliningsun。
\"Toolatetogoout，\"saidMissAlaninavoiceofrelief。\"Allthegalleriesareshut。”
\"IthinkIshallgoout，\"saidLucy。\"Iwanttogoroundthetowninthecirculartram——ontheplatformbythedriver。”
Hertwocompanionslookedgrave。Mr。Beebe，whofeltresponsibleforherintheabsenceofMissBartlett，venturedtosay:
\"Iwishwecould。UnluckilyIhaveletters。Ifyoudowanttogooutalone，won\'tyoubebetteronyourfeet？\"
\"Italians，dear，youknow，\"saidMissAlan。
\"PerhapsIshallmeetsomeonewhoreadsmethroughandthrough!\"
Buttheystilllookeddisapproval，andshesofarconcededtoMr。
Beebeastosaythatshewouldonlygoforalittlewalk，andkeeptothestreetfrequentedbytourists。
\"Sheoughtn\'treallytogoatall，\"saidMr。Beebe，astheywatchedherfromthewindow，\"andsheknowsit。IputitdowntotoomuchBeethoven。”
ChapterIV:FourthChapterMr。Beebewasright。Lucyneverknewherdesiressoclearlyasaftermusic。Shehadnotreallyappreciatedtheclergyman\'swit，northesuggestivetwitteringsofMissAlan。Conversationwastedious；shewantedsomethingbig，andshebelievedthatitwouldhavecometoheronthewind-sweptplatformofanelectrictram。
Thisshemightnotattempt。Itwasunladylike。Why？Whyweremostbigthingsunladylike？Charlottehadonceexplainedtoherwhy。
Itwasnotthatladieswereinferiortomen；itwasthattheyweredifferent。Theirmissionwastoinspireotherstoachievementratherthantoachievethemselves。Indirectly，bymeansoftactandaspotlessname，aladycouldaccomplishmuch。
Butifsherushedintothefrayherselfshewouldbefirstcensured，thendespised，andfinallyignored。Poemshadbeenwrittentoillustratethispoint。
Thereismuchthatisimmortalinthismedievallady。Thedragonshavegone，andsohavetheknights，butstillshelingersinourmidst。ShereignedinmanyanearlyVictoriancastle，andwasQueenofmuchearlyVictoriansong。Itissweettoprotectherintheintervalsofbusiness，sweettopayherhonourwhenshehascookedourdinnerwell。Butalas!thecreaturegrowsdegenerate。
Inherheartalsotherearespringingupstrangedesires。Shetooisenamouredofheavywinds，andvastpanoramas，andgreenexpansesofthesea。Shehasmarkedthekingdomofthisworld，howfullitisofwealth，andbeauty，andwar——aradiantcrust，builtaroundthecentralfires，spinningtowardstherecedingheavens。Men，declaringthatsheinspiresthemtoit，movejoyfullyoverthesurface，havingthemostdelightfulmeetingswithothermen，happy，notbecausetheyaremasculine，butbecausetheyarealive。BeforetheshowbreaksupshewouldliketodroptheaugusttitleoftheEternalWoman，andgothereashertransitoryself。
Lucydoesnotstandforthemedievallady，whowasratheranidealtowhichshewasbiddentolifthereyeswhenfeelingserious。Norhassheanysystemofrevolt。Hereandtherearestrictionannoyedherparticularly，andshewouldtransgressit，andperhapsbesorrythatshehaddoneso。Thisafternoonshewaspeculiarlyrestive。Shewouldreallyliketodosomethingofwhichherwell-wishersdisapproved。Asshemightnotgoontheelectrictram，shewenttoAlinari\'sshop。
TheresheboughtaphotographofBotticelli\'s\"BirthofVenus。”
Venus，beingapity，spoiltthepicture，otherwisesocharming，andMissBartletthadpersuadedhertodowithoutit。(Apityinartofcoursesignifiedthenude。)Giorgione\'s\"Tempesta，\"the\"Idolino，\"someoftheSistinefrescoesandtheApoxyomenos，wereaddedtoit。Shefeltalittlecalmerthen，andboughtFraAngelico\'s\"Coronation，\"Giotto\'s\"AscensionofSt。John，\"someDellaRobbiababies，andsomeGuidoReniMadonnas。Forhertastewascatholic，andsheextendeduncriticalapprovaltoeverywell-knownname。
Butthoughshespentnearlysevenlire，thegatesoflibertyseemedstillunopened。Shewasconsciousofherdiscontent；itwasnewtohertobeconsciousofit。\"Theworld，\"shethought，\"iscertainlyfullofbeautifulthings，ifonlyIcouldcomeacrossthem。”ItwasnotsurprisingthatMrs。Honeychurchdisapprovedofmusic，declaringthatitalwaysleftherdaughterpeevish，unpractical，andtouchy。
\"Nothingeverhappenstome，\"shereflected，assheenteredthePiazzaSignoriaandlookednonchalantlyatitsmarvels，nowfairlyfamiliartoher。Thegreatsquarewasinshadow；thesunshinehadcometoolatetostrikeit。Neptunewasalreadyunsubstantialinthetwilight，halfgod，halfghost，andhisfountainplasheddreamilytothemenandsatyrswhoidledtogetheronitsmarge。TheLoggiashowedasthetripleentranceofacave，whereinmanyadeity，shadowy，butimmortal，lookingforthuponthearrivalsanddeparturesofmankind。Itwasthehourofunreality——thehour，thatis，whenunfamiliarthingsarereal。Anolderpersonatsuchanhourandinsuchaplacemightthinkthatsufficientwashappeningtohim，andrestcontent。
Lucydesiredmore。
Shefixedhereyeswistfullyonthetowerofthepalace，whichroseoutofthelowerdarknesslikeapillarofroughenedgold。
Itseemednolongeratower，nolongersupportedbyearth，butsomeunattainabletreasurethrobbinginthetranquilsky。Itsbrightnessmesmerizedher，stilldancingbeforehereyeswhenshebentthemtothegroundandstartedtowardshome。
Thensomethingdidhappen。
TwoItaliansbytheLoggiahadbeenbickeringaboutadebt。
\"Cinquelire，\"theyhadcried，\"cinquelire!\"Theysparredateachother，andoneofthemwashitlightlyuponthechest。Hefrowned；hebenttowardsLucywithalookofinterest，asifhehadanimportantmessageforher。Heopenedhislipstodeliverit，andastreamofredcameoutbetweenthemandtrickleddownhisunshavenchin。
Thatwasall。Acrowdroseoutofthedusk。Ithidthisextraordinarymanfromher，andborehimawaytothefountain。
Mr。GeorgeEmersonhappenedtobeafewpacesaway，lookingatheracrossthespotwherethemanhadbeen。Howveryodd!Acrosssomething。Evenasshecaughtsightofhimhegrewdim；thepalaceitselfgrewdim，swayedaboveher，fellontohersoftly，slowly，noiselessly，andtheskyfellwithit。
Shethought:\"Oh，whathaveIdone？\"
\"Oh，whathaveIdone？\"shemurmured，andopenedhereyes。
GeorgeEmersonstilllookedather，butnotacrossanything。Shehadcomplainedofdullness，andlo!onemanwasstabbed，andanotherheldherinhisarms。
TheyweresittingonsomestepsintheUffiziArcade。Hemusthavecarriedher。Herosewhenshespoke，andbegantodusthisknees。Sherepeated:
\"Oh，whathaveIdone？\"
\"Youfainted。”
\"I——Iamverysorry。”
\"Howareyounow？\"
\"Perfectlywell——absolutelywell。”Andshebegantonodandsmile。
\"Thenletuscomehome。There\'snopointinourstopping。”
Heheldouthishandtopullherup。Shepretendednottoseeit。
Thecriesfromthefountain——theyhadneverceased——rangemptily。
Thewholeworldseemedpaleandvoidofitsoriginalmeaning。
\"Howverykindyouhavebeen!Imighthavehurtmyselffalling。
ButnowIamwell。Icangoalone，thankyou。”
Hishandwasstillextended。
\"Oh，myphotographs!\"sheexclaimedsuddenly。
\"Whatphotographs？\"
\"IboughtsomephotographsatAlinari\'s。Imusthavedroppedthemoutthereinthesquare。”Shelookedathimcautiously。\"Wouldyouaddtoyourkindnessbyfetchingthem？\"
Headdedtohiskindness。Assoonashehadturnedhisback，LucyarosewiththerunningofamaniacandstoledownthearcadetowardstheArno。
\"MissHoneychurch!\"
Shestoppedwithherhandonherheart。
\"Yousitstill；youaren\'tfittogohomealone。”
\"Yes，Iam，thankyousoverymuch。”
\"No，youaren\'t。You\'dgoopenlyifyouwere。”
\"ButIhadrather——\"
\"ThenIdon\'tfetchyourphotographs。”
\"Ihadratherbealone。”
Hesaidimperiously:\"Themanisdead——themanisprobablydead；
sitdowntillyouarerested。”Shewasbewildered，andobeyedhim。\"Anddon\'tmovetillIcomeback。”
Inthedistanceshesawcreatureswithblackhoods，suchasappearindreams。Thepalacetowerhadlostthereflectionofthedecliningday，andjoineditselftoearth。HowshouldshetalktoMr。Emersonwhenhereturnedfromtheshadowysquare？Againthethoughtoccurredtoher，\"Oh，whathaveIdone？\"——thethoughtthatshe，aswellasthedyingman，hadcrossedsomespiritualboundary。
Hereturned，andshetalkedofthemurder。Oddlyenough，itwasaneasytopic。ShespokeoftheItaliancharacter；shebecamealmostgarrulousovertheincidentthathadmadeherfaintfiveminutesbefore。Beingstrongphysically，shesoonovercamethehorrorofblood。Sherosewithouthisassistance，andthoughwingsseemedtoflutterinsideher，shewalkedfirmlyenoughtowardstheArno。Thereacabmansignalledtothem；theyrefusedhim。
\"Andthemurderertriedtokisshim，yousay——howveryoddItaliansare!——andgavehimselfuptothepolice!Mr。BeebewassayingthatItaliansknoweverything，butIthinktheyareratherchildish。WhenmycousinandIwereatthePittiyesterday——Whatwasthat？\"
Hehadthrownsomethingintothestream。
\"Whatdidyouthrowin？\"
\"ThingsIdidn\'twant，\"hesaidcrossly。
\"Mr。Emerson!\"
\"Well？\"
\"Wherearethephotographs？\"
Hewassilent。
\"Ibelieveitwasmyphotographsthatyouthrewaway。”
\"Ididn\'tknowwhattodowiththem，\"hecried。andhisvoicewasthatofananxiousboy。Herheartwarmedtowardshimforthefirsttime。\"Theywerecoveredwithblood。There!I\'mgladI\'vetoldyou；andallthetimeweweremakingconversationIwaswonderingwhattodowiththem。”Hepointeddown-stream。\"They\'vegone。”Theriverswirledunderthebridge，\"Ididmindthemso，andoneissofoolish，itseemedbetterthattheyshouldgoouttothesea——Idon\'tknow；Imayjustmeanthattheyfrightenedme。
Thentheboyvergedintoaman。\"Forsomethingtremendoushashappened；Imustfaceitwithoutgettingmuddled。Itisn\'texactlythatamanhasdied。”
SomethingwarnedLucythatshemuststophim。
\"Ithashappened，\"herepeated，\"andImeantofindoutwhatitis。”
\"Mr。Emerson——\"
Heturnedtowardsherfrowning，asifshehaddisturbedhiminsomeabstractquest。
\"Iwanttoaskyousomethingbeforewegoin。”
Theywereclosetotheirpension。Shestoppedandleantherelbowsagainsttheparapetoftheembankment。Hedidlikewise。
Thereisattimesamagicinidentityofposition；itisoneofthethingsthathavesuggestedtouseternalcomradeship。Shemovedherelbowsbeforesaying:
\"Ihavebehavedridiculously。”
Hewasfollowinghisownthoughts。
\"Iwasneversomuchashamedofmyselfinmylife；Icannotthinkwhatcameoverme。”
\"Inearlyfaintedmyself，\"hesaid；butshefeltthatherattituderepelledhim。
\"Well，Ioweyouathousandapologies。”
\"Oh，allright。”
\"And——thisistherealpoint——youknowhowsillypeoplearegossiping——ladiesespecially，Iamafraid——youunderstandwhatI
mean？\"
\"I\'mafraidIdon\'t。”
\"Imean，wouldyounotmentionittoanyone，myfoolishbehaviour？\"
\"Yourbehaviour？Oh，yes，allright——allright。”
\"Thankyousomuch。Andwouldyou——\"
Shecouldnotcarryherrequestanyfurther。Theriverwasrushingbelowthem，almostblackintheadvancingnight。Hehadthrownherphotographsintoit，andthenhehadtoldherthereason。Itstruckherthatitwashopelesstolookforchivalryinsuchaman。Hewoulddohernoharmbyidlegossip；hewastrustworthy，intelligent，andevenkind；hemightevenhaveahighopinionofher。Buthelackedchivalry；histhoughts，likehisbehaviour，wouldnotbemodifiedbyawe。Itwasuselesstosaytohim，\"Andwouldyou——\"andhopethathewouldcompletethesentenceforhimself，avertinghiseyesfromhernakednessliketheknightinthatbeautifulpicture。Shehadbeeninhisarms，andherememberedit，justasherememberedthebloodonthephotographsthatshehadboughtinAlinari\'sshop。Itwasnotexactlythatamanhaddied；somethinghadhappenedtotheliving:theyhadcometoasituationwherecharactertells，andwherechildhoodentersuponthebranchingpathsofYouth。
\"Well，thankyousomuch，\"sherepeated，\"Howquicklytheseaccidentsdohappen，andthenonereturnstotheoldlife!\"
\"Idon\'t。”
Anxietymovedhertoquestionhim。
Hisanswerwaspuzzling:\"Ishallprobablywanttolive。”
\"Butwhy，Mr。Emerson？Whatdoyoumean？\"
\"Ishallwanttolive，Isay。”
Leaningherelbowsontheparapet，shecontemplatedtheRiverArno，whoseroarwassuggestingsomeunexpectedmelodytoherears。
ChapterV:PossibilitiesofaPleasantOutingItwasafamilysayingthat\"youneverknewwhichwayCharlotteBartlettwouldturn。”ShewasperfectlypleasantandsensibleoverLucy\'sadventure，foundtheabridgedaccountofitquiteadequate，andpaidsuitabletributetothecourtesyofMr。GeorgeEmerson。SheandMissLavishhadhadanadventurealso。TheyhadbeenstoppedattheDaziocomingback，andtheyoungofficialsthere，whoseemedimpudentanddesoeuvre，hadtriedtosearchtheirreticulesforprovisions。Itmighthavebeenmostunpleasant。FortunatelyMissLavishwasamatchforanyone。
Forgoodorforevil，Lucywaslefttofaceherproblemalone。
Noneofherfriendshadseenher，eitherinthePiazzaor，lateron，bytheembankment。Mr。Beebe，indeed，noticingherstartledeyesatdinner-time，hadagainpassedtohimselftheremarkof\"ToomuchBeethoven。”Butheonlysupposedthatshewasreadyforanadventure，notthatshehadencounteredit。Thissolitudeoppressedher；shewasaccustomedtohaveherthoughtsconfirmedbyothersor，atallevents，contradicted；itwastoodreadfulnottoknowwhethershewasthinkingrightorwrong。
Atbreakfastnextmorningshetookdecisiveaction。Thereweretwoplansbetweenwhichshehadtochoose。Mr。BeebewaswalkinguptotheTorredelGallowiththeEmersonsandsomeAmericanladies。WouldMissBartlettandMissHoneychurchjointheparty？
Charlottedeclinedforherself；shehadbeenthereintherainthepreviousafternoon。ButshethoughtitanadmirableideaforLucy，whohatedshopping，changingmoney，fetchingletters，andotherirksomeduties——allofwhichMissBartlettmustaccomplishthismorningandcouldeasilyaccomplishalone。
\"No，Charlotte!\"criedthegirl，withrealwarmth。\"It\'sverykindofMr。Beebe，butIamcertainlycomingwithyou。Ihadmuchrather。”
\"Verywell，dear，\"saidMissBartlett，withafaintflushofpleasurethatcalledforthadeepflushofshameonthecheeksofLucy。HowabominablyshebehavedtoCharlotte，nowasalways!Butnowsheshouldalter。Allmorningshewouldbereallynicetoher。
Sheslippedherarmintohercousin\'s，andtheystartedoffalongtheLung\'Arno。Theriverwasalionthatmorninginstrength，voice，andcolour。MissBartlettinsistedonleaningovertheparapettolookatit。Shethenmadeherusualremark，whichwas\"HowIdowishFreddyandyourmothercouldseethis，too!\"
Lucyfidgeted；itwastiresomeofCharlottetohavestoppedexactlywhereshedid。
\"Look，Lucia!Oh，youarewatchingfortheTorredelGalloparty。
