登陆注册
19572200000040

第40章

"Mad!" screamed Harriet,--"absolutely stark, staring, raving mad!"Philip judged it better not to contradict her.

What's she here for? Answer me that.

What's she doing in Monteriano in August? Why isn't she in Normandy?

Answer that.She won't.I can: she's come to thwart us; she's betrayed us--got hold of mother's plans.Oh, goodness, my head!"He was unwise enough to reply, "You mustn't accuse her of that.Though she is exasperating, she hasn't come here to betray us.""Then why has she come here? Answer me that."He made no answer.But fortunately his sister was too much agitated to wait for one."Bursting in on me--crying and looking a disgusting sight--and says she has been to see the Italian.

Couldn't even talk properly; pretended she had changed her opinions.

What are her opinions to us? I was very calm.I said: 'Miss Abbott, I think there is a little misapprehension in this matter.

My mother, Mrs.Herriton--' Oh, goodness, my head! Of course you've failed--don't trouble to answer--I know you've failed.Where's the baby, pray? Of course you haven't got it.Dear sweet Caroline won't let you.Oh, yes, and we're to go away at once and trouble the father no more.Those are her commands.Commands!

COMMANDS!" And Harriet also burst into tears.

Philip governed his temper.His sister was annoying, but quite reasonable in her indignation.Moreover, Miss Abbott had behaved even worse than she supposed.

"I've not got the baby, Harriet, but at the same time I haven't exactly failed.I and Signor Carella are to have another interview this afternoon, at the Caffè Garibaldi.He is perfectly reasonable and pleasant.Should you be disposed to come with me, you would find him quite willing to discuss things.He is desperately in want of money, and has no prospect of getting any.I discovered that.At the same time, he has a certain affection for the child."For Philip's insight, or perhaps his opportunities, had not been equal to Miss Abbott's.

Harriet would only sob, and accuse her brother of insulting her; how could a lady speak to such a horrible man? That, and nothing else, was enough to stamp Caroline.Oh, poor Lilia!

Philip drummed on the bedroom window-sill.

He saw no escape from the deadlock.For though he spoke cheerfully about his second interview with Gino, he felt at the bottom of his heart that it would fail.Gino was too courteous: he would not break off negotiations by sharp denial; he loved this civil, half-humorous bargaining.

And he loved fooling his opponent, and did it so nicely that his opponent did not mind being fooled.

"Miss Abbott has behaved extraordinarily," he said at last; "but at the same time--"His sister would not hear him.She burst forth again on the madness, the interference, the intolerable duplicity of Caroline.

"Harriet, you must listen.My dear, you must stop crying.I have something quite important to say.""I shall not stop crying," said she.But in time, finding that he would not speak to her, she did stop.

"Remember that Miss Abbott has done us no harm.

She said nothing to him about the matter.He assumes that she is working with us: I gathered that.""Well, she isn't."

"Yes; but if you're careful she may be.Iinterpret her behaviour thus: She went to see him, honestly intending to get the child away.In the note she left me she says so, and I don't believe she'd lie.""I do."

"When she got there, there was some pretty domestic scene between him and the baby, and she has got swept off in a gush of sentimentalism.Before very long, if I know anything about psychology, there will be a reaction.She'll be swept back.""I don't understand your long words.Say plainly--""When she's swept back, she'll be invaluable.

For she has made quite an impression on him.He thinks her so nice with the baby.You know, she washed it for him.""Disgusting!"

Harriet's ejaculations were more aggravating than the rest of her.But Philip was averse to losing his temper.

The access of joy that had come to him yesterday in the theatre promised to be permanent.He was more anxious than heretofore to be charitable towards the world.

"If you want to carry off the baby, keep your peace with Miss Abbott.For if she chooses, she can help you better than I can.""There can be no peace between me and her," said Harriet gloomily.

"Did you--"

"Oh, not all I wanted.She went away before I had finished speaking--just like those cowardly people! --into the church.""Into Santa Deodata's?"

"Yes; I'm sure she needs it.Anything more unchristian--"In time Philip went to the church also, leaving his sister a little calmer and a little disposed to think over his advice.

What had come over Miss Abbott? He had always thought her both stable and sincere.That conversation he had had with her last Christmas in the train to Charing Cross--that alone furnished him with a parallel.

For the second time, Monteriano must have turned her head.He was not angry with her, for he was quite indifferent to the outcome of their expedition.He was only extremely interested.

It was now nearly midday, and the streets were clearing.

But the intense heat had broken, and there was a pleasant suggestion of rain.The Piazza, with its three great attractions--the Palazzo Pubblico, the Collegiate Church, and the Caffè Garibaldi: the intellect, the soul, and the body--had never looked more charming.For a moment Philip stood in its centre, much inclined to be dreamy, and thinking how wonderful it must feel to belong to a city, however mean.He was here, however, as an emissary of civilization and as a student of character, and, after a sigh, he entered Santa Deodata's to continue his mission.

There had been a festa two days before, and the church still smelt of incense and of garlic.The little son of the sacristan was sweeping the nave, more for amusement than for cleanliness, sending great clouds of dust over the frescoes and the scattered worshippers.

同类推荐
  • 春闺辞二首

    春闺辞二首

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 佛说孛经抄

    佛说孛经抄

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 漱华随笔

    漱华随笔

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 修真十书上清集卷

    修真十书上清集卷

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 深衣考误

    深衣考误

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 隋唐三教哲学

    隋唐三教哲学

    《隋唐三教哲学》阐述隋唐时代的儒佛道三教哲学,运用过去较少涉及的儒教经注、佛教北宗材料,把老庄等作为唐代道教的主流。认为安史之乱是导致隋唐哲学发生根本转折的主要事件;转折使儒教哲学趋于建立自己的心性论,使佛教诸宗归禅,使道教丹术理论心性化。分析深入,且揭示三教哲学发展趋势。
  • TFBOYS之绝世倾城

    TFBOYS之绝世倾城

    这部小说主要讲的是羽汐,若希,知雨遇上王俊凯,王源,易烊千玺等人他们会擦出怎么样的爱情火花呢
  • 弑王煞凤:草包七小姐

    弑王煞凤:草包七小姐

    【女强,爽文,一对一!】惊才艳绝的梵天萝穿越到八大豪门之首的梵家七小姐身上。没有修炼天赋就是草包废物!草包废物?瞎了你们的狗眼!睁大眼睛看清楚,天才算什么?遇上变态也得低头!风姿绰约的她惹来桃花一朵朵,却什么时候成了那弑杀邪魅男的女人?男人在上咬牙切齿:“你再招惹男人,我就把你就地正法!”女人在下风情挑眉:“凭你?”银针一闪,直指他腰下邪火处。这一世,草包势要成变态,遇神杀神,遇佛弑佛,九天之上,傲视天下!
  • 红人馆传奇

    红人馆传奇

    华夏设立红人馆。执掌天下之法,却因“侠以武犯禁”受到毁灭性打击。邱少辰上位后,进行步步为营的复仇计划!
  • 被穿越者玩坏的世界们

    被穿越者玩坏的世界们

    “什么!边不负穿越到斯巴达三百战士的世界里了?”“什么!多啦A梦穿越到三国里去了?”“什么!龙傲天穿越到我的世界里了?”保证节操满值……
  • 穿越战争

    穿越战争

    一个传言只要连续三天晚上12点的时候在电脑上写上“我要穿越”几个字,到第四天的时候就会有人来到你的家中。但是当那人来到你的家中你又不想穿越了,那你会很惨。主人公北原剑雨是一个宅男,因为跟网友打赌结果每天晚上12点写了我要穿越几个字,结果穿越了。
  • 天阳魂

    天阳魂

    二千年前,大地生以大恶,带领百龙灭阳,大地崩灭,天地无阳。天地无阳,苍穹无光,世界被黑暗所笼罩,非人之物横行,人勉强生存在黑暗的夹缝之中,持续了近千年,天怜我等,生以圣阳,封以大恶,给大陆再次带来光明。现今,大恶再度苏醒,一轮新的圣阳也再度升起。融外魂,觉魂醒,炼魂力,显魂意,凝魂身,现魂我,魂合一,成魂宰。严重警告这是一个坑,一个大坑
  • 穿越禹皇

    穿越禹皇

    “为爱而死,为爱而生,离别之泪,纵然化为滔滔江水连绵不绝也难尽心中悲痛!”“生又何欢,死又何惧,生又何拒,死有何欢,生生死死,天道皆空!”“成神之路,谁与阻挡,灭天之举,谁与争锋!”“新的世界,新的未来,由你来创造!”【作品纯属虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 优秀青少年要养成的好习惯、好性格、好心态(大全集)

    优秀青少年要养成的好习惯、好性格、好心态(大全集)

    本书是一本心理励志著作,全书分为三篇,分别从习惯、性格、心态三方面来对青少年进行全方位的心灵指导。该书联系实际,运用生活典型案例来指导青少年塑造更完美的习惯、性格和心态,是青少年成长过程中的知识大餐。
  • 盛世娇宠:一品毒妃

    盛世娇宠:一品毒妃

    上一世,她是丞相府最受人唾弃的嫡女,容貌丑陋受尽欺凌;这一世,她是天阙王朝最高贵的女子,风华绝代毒术精湛。奈何父亲不疼,庶妹欺侮,就连寄住在自己家的外人都敢栽赃陷害,皇帝更是轻飘飘一封口谕,把她嫁给杀人成狂的疯王爷!于是她被欺辱,有护卫撑腰;她任性,有护卫惯着;她放肆惹怒了皇后,更有白王亲自出场包庇!云危画以为自己老老实实做白王府的血液储备就好,可她步步谨慎步步危急,才发现所有事情都并非想象中那么简单……