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easier； the world be happier； if she could give and receive some
human love。 The impulse had come before to…day； but never so
strongly。 She knelt down by her cousin's side and took her in her
arms。
Miss Bartlett returned the embrace with tenderness and warmth。
But she was not a stupid woman； and she knew perfectly well that
Lucy did not love her； but needed her to love。 For it was in
ominous tones that she said； after a long pause：
〃Dearest Lucy； how will you ever forgive me？〃
Lucy was on her guard at once； knowing by bitter experience what
forgiving Miss Bartlett meant。 Her emotion relaxed； she modified
her embrace a little； and she said：
〃Charlotte dear； what do you mean？ As if I have anything to
forgive！〃
〃You have a great deal； and I have a very great deal to forgive
myself； too。 I know well how much I vex you at every turn。〃
〃But no〃
Miss Bartlett assumed her favourite role； that of the prematurely
aged martyr。
〃Ah； but yes！ I feel that our tour together is hardly the success
I had hoped。 I might have known it would not do。 You want some
one younger and stronger and more in sympathy with you。 I am too
uninteresting and old…fashionedonly fit to pack and unpack your
things。〃
〃Please〃
〃My only consolation was that you found people more to your
taste； and were often able to leave me at home。 I had my own poor
ideas of what a lady ought to do； but I hope I did not inflict
them on you more than was necessary。 You had your own way about
these rooms； at all events。〃
〃You mustn't say these things；〃 said Lucy softly。
She still clung to the hope that she and Charlotte loved each
other； heart and soul。 They continued to pack in silence。
〃I have been a failure；〃 said Miss Bartlett； as she struggled
with the straps of Lucy's trunk instead of strapping her own。
〃Failed to make you happy； failed in my duty to your mother。 She
has been so generous to me； I shall never face her again after
this disaster。〃
〃But mother will understand。 It is not your fault； this trouble；
and it isn't a disaster either。〃
〃It is my fault； it is a disaster。 She will never forgive me； and
rightly。 Fur instance； what right had I to make friends with Miss
Lavish？〃
〃Every right。〃
〃When I was here for your sake？ If I have vexed you it is equally
true that I have neglected you。 Your mother will see this as
clearly as I do； when you tell her。〃
Lucy； from a cowardly wish to improve the situation； said：
〃Why need mother hear of it？〃
〃But you tell her everything？〃
〃I suppose I do generally。〃
〃I dare not break your confidence。 There is something sacred in
it。 Unless you feel that it is a thing you could not tell her。〃
The girl would not be degraded to this。
〃Naturally I should have told her。 But in case she should blame
you in any way； I promise I will not； I am very willing not to。 I
will never speak of it either to her or to any one。〃
Her promise brought the long…drawn interview to a sudden close。
Miss Bartlett pecked her smartly on both cheeks； wished her
good…night； and sent her to her own room。
For a moment the original trouble was in the background。 George
would seem to have behaved like a cad throughout； perhaps that
was the view which one would take eventually。 At present she
neither acquitted nor condemned him； she did not pass judgment。
At the moment when she was about to judge him her cousin's voice
had intervened； and； ever since； it was Miss Bartlett who had
dominated； Miss Bartlett who； even now； could be heard sighing
into a crack in the partition wall； Miss Bartlett； who had really
been neither pliable nor humble nor inconsistent。 She had worked
like a great artist； for a timeindeed； for yearsshe had been
meaningless； but at the end there was presented to the girl the
complete picture of a cheerless； loveless world in which the
young rush to destruction until they learn bettera shamefaced
world of precautions and barriers which may avert evil； but which
do not seem to bring good； if we may judge from those who have
used them most。
Lucy was suffering from the most grievous wrong which this world
has yet discovered： diplomatic advantage had been taken of her
sincerity； of her craving for sympathy and love。 Such a wrong is
not easily forgotten。 Never again did she expose herself without
due consideration and precaution against rebuff。 And such a wrong
may react disastrously upon the soul。
The door…bell rang； and she started to the shutters。 Before she
reached them she hesitated； turned； and blew out the candle。 Thus
it was that； though she saw some one standing in the wet below；
he； though he looked up； did not see her。
To reach his room he had to go by hers。 She was still dressed。 It
struck her that she might slip into the passage and just say that
she would be gone before he was up； and that their extraordinary
intercourse was over。
Whether she would have dared to do this was never proved。 At the
critical moment Miss Bartlett opened her own door； and her voice
said：
〃I wish one word with you in the drawing…room； Mr。 Emerson；
please。〃
Soon their footsteps returned； and Miss Bartlett said：
〃Good…night； Mr。 Emerson。〃
His heavy； tired breathing was the only reply； the chaperon had
done her work。
Lucy cried aloud： 〃It isn't true。 It can't all be true。 I want
not to be muddled。 I want to grow older quickly。〃
Miss Bartlett tapped on the wall。
〃Go to bed at once； dear。 You need all the rest you can get。〃
In the morning they left for Rome。
Part Two
Chapter VIII： Medieval
The drawing…room curtains at Windy Corner had been pulled to
meet； for the carpet was new and deserved protection
from the August sun。 They were heavy curtains； reaching almost to
the ground； and the light that filtered through them was subdued
and varied。 A poetnone was presentmight have quoted； 〃Life
like a dome of many coloured glass；〃 or might have compared the
curtains to sluice…gates； lowered against the intolerable tides
of heaven。 Without was poured a sea of radiance； within； the
glory； though visible； was tempered to the capacities of man。
Two pleasant people sat in the room。 Onea boy of nineteenwas
studying a small manual of anatomy； and peering occasionally at a
bone which lay upon the piano。 From time to time he bounced in
his chair and puffed and groaned； for the day was hot and the
print small； and the human frame fearfully made； and his mother；
who was writing a letter； did continually read out to him what
she had written。 And continually did she rise from her seat and
part the curtains so that a rivulet of light fell across the
carpet； and make the remark that they were still there。
〃Where aren't they？〃 said the boy； who was Freddy； Lucy's
brother。 〃I tell you I'm getting fairly sick。〃
〃For goodness' sake go out of my drawing…room； then？〃 cried Mrs。
Honeychurch； who hoped to cure her children of slang by taking it
literally。
Freddy did not move or reply。
〃I think things are coming to a head；〃 she observed； rather
wanting her son's opinion on the situation if she could obtain it
without undue supplication。
〃Time they did。〃
〃I am glad that Cecil is asking her this once more。〃
〃It's his third go； isn't it？〃
〃Freddy I do call the way you talk unkind。〃
〃I didn't mean to be unkind。〃 Then he added： 〃But I do think Lucy
might have got this off her chest in Italy。 I don't know how
girls manage things； but she can't have said 'No' properly
before； or she wouldn't have to say it again now。 Over the whole
thingI can't explainI do feel so uncomfortable。〃
〃Do you indeed； dear？ How interesting！〃
〃I feelnever mind。〃
He returned to his work。
〃Just listen to what I have written to Mrs。 Vyse。 I said： 'Dear
Mrs。 Vyse。'〃
〃Yes； mother； you told me。 A jolly good letter。〃
〃I said： 'Dear Mrs。 Vyse； Cecil has just asked my permission
about it； and I should be delighted； if Lucy wishes it。 But'〃
She stopped reading； 〃I was rather amused at Cecil asking my
permission at all。 He has always gone in for unconventionality；
and parents nowhere； and so forth。 When it comes to the point； he
can't get on without me。〃
〃Nor me。〃
〃You？〃
Freddy nodded。
〃What do you mean？〃
〃He asked me for my permission also。〃
She exclaimed： 〃How very odd of him！〃
〃Why so？〃 asked the son and heir。 〃Why shouldn't my permission be
asked？〃
〃What do you know about Lucy or girls or anything？ What ever did
you say？〃
〃I said to Cecil； 'Take her or leave her； it's no business of
mine！'〃
〃What a helpful answer！〃 But her own answer； though more normal
in its wording； had been to the same effect。
〃The bother is this；〃 began Freddy。
Then he took up his work again； too shy to say wh