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〃It is of the highest importance that there should be no gossip
in Summer Street。 It would be DEATH to gossip about Mr。 Vyse's
dismissal at the present moment。〃
Mr。 Beebe raised his eyebrows。 Death is a strong wordsurely too
strong。 There was no question of tragedy。 He said： 〃Of course；
Miss Honeychurch will make the fact public in her own way； and
when she chooses。 Freddy only told me because he knew she would
not mind。〃
〃I know；〃 said Miss Bartlett civilly。 〃Yet Freddy ought not to
have told even you。 One cannot be too careful。〃
〃Quite so。〃
〃I do implore absolute secrecy。 A chance word to a chattering
friend； and〃
〃Exactly。〃 He was used to these nervous old maids and to the
exaggerated importance that they attach to words。 A rector lives
in a web of petty secrets； and confidences and warnings； and the
wiser he is the less he will regard them。 He will change the
subject； as did Mr。 Beebe； saying cheerfully： 〃Have you heard
from any Bertolini people lately？ I believe you keep up with Miss
Lavish。 It is odd how we of that pension； who seemed such a
fortuitous collection； have been working into one another's
lives。 Two； three； four； six of usno； eight； I had forgotten
the Emersonshave kept more or less in touch。 We must really
give the Signora a testimonial。〃
And； Miss Bartlett not favouring the scheme； they walked up the
hill in a silence which was only broken by the rector naming some
fern。 On the summit they paused。 The sky had grown wilder since
he stood there last hour； giving to the land a tragic greatness
that is rare in Surrey。 Grey clouds were charging across tissues
of white； which stretched and shredded and tore slowly； until
through their final layers there gleamed a hint of the
disappearing blue。 Summer was retreating。 The wind roared； the
trees groaned； yet the noise seemed insufficient for those vast
operations in heaven。 The weather was breaking up； breaking；
broken； and it is a sense of the fit rather than of the
supernatural that equips such crises with the salvos of angelic
artillery。 Mr。 Beebe's eyes rested on Windy Corner； where Lucy
sat； practising Mozart。 No smile came to his lips； and； changing
the subject again； he said： 〃We shan't have rain； but we shall
have darkness； so let us hurry on。 The darkness last night was
appalling。〃
They reached the Beehive Tavern at about five o'clock。 That
amiable hostelry possesses a verandah； in which the young and the
unwise do dearly love to sit； while guests of more mature years
seek a pleasant sanded room； and have tea at a table comfortably。
Mr。 Beebe saw that Miss Bartlett would be cold if she sat out； and
that Minnie would be dull if she sat in； so he proposed a division
of forces。 They would hand the child her food through the window。
Thus he was incidentally enabled to discuss the fortunes of Lucy。
〃I have been thinking； Miss Bartlett；〃 he said； 〃and； unless you
very much object； I would like to reopen that discussion。〃 She
bowed。 〃Nothing about the past。 I know little and care less about
that； I am absolutely certain that it is to your cousin's credit。
She has acted loftily and rightly； and it is like her gentle
modesty to say that we think too highly of her。 But the future。
Seriously； what do you think of this Greek plan？〃 He pulled out
the letter again。 〃I don't know whether you overheard； but she
wants to join the Miss Alans in their mad career。 It's allI
can't explainit's wrong。〃
Miss Bartlett read the letter in silence； laid it down； seemed to
hesitate； and then read it again。
〃I can't see the point of it myself。〃
To his astonishment； she replied： 〃There I cannot agree with you。
In it I spy Lucy's salvation。〃
〃Really。 Now； why？〃
〃She wanted to leave Windy Corner。〃
〃I knowbut it seems so odd； so unlike her； soI was going to
sayselfish。〃
〃It is natural； surelyafter such painful scenesthat she should
desire a change。〃
Here； apparently； was one of those points that the male intellect
misses。 Mr。 Beebe exclaimed： 〃So she says herself； and since
another lady agrees with her； I must own that I am partially
convinced。 Perhaps she must have a change。 I have no sisters or
and I don't understand these things。 But why need she go as far
as Greece？〃
〃You may well ask that；〃 replied Miss Bartlett； who was evidently
interested； and had almost dropped her evasive manner。 〃Why
Greece？ （What is it； Minnie dearjam？） Why not Tunbridge Wells？
Oh； Mr。 Beebe！ I had a long and most unsatisfactory interview
with dear Lucy this morning。 I cannot help her。 I will say no
more。 Perhaps I have already said too much。 I am not to talk。 I
wanted her to spend six months with me at Tunbridge Wells； and
she refused。〃
Mr。 Beebe poked at a crumb with his knife。
〃But my feelings are of no importance。 I know too well that I get
on Lucy's nerves。 Our tour was a failure。 She wanted to leave
Florence； and when we got to Rome she did not want to be in Rome；
and all the time I felt that I was spending her mother's
money。〃
〃Let us keep to the future； though；〃 interrupted Mr。 Beebe。 〃I
want your advice。〃
〃Very well；〃 said Charlotte； with a choky abruptness that was
new to him； though familiar to Lucy。 〃I for one will help her to
go to Greece。 Will you？〃
Mr。 Beebe considered。
〃It is absolutely necessary；〃 she continued； lowering her veil
and whispering through it with a passion； an intensity； that
surprised him。 〃I knowI know。〃 The darkness was coming on； and
he felt that this odd woman really did know。 〃She must not stop
here a moment； and we must keep quiet till she goes。 I trust that
the servants know nothing。 Afterwardsbut I may have said too
much already。 Only； Lucy and I are helpless against Mrs。
Honeychurch alone。 If you help we may succeed。 Otherwise〃
〃Otherwise？〃
〃Otherwise；〃 she repeated as if the word held finality。
〃Yes； I will help her；〃 said the clergyman； setting his jaw firm。
〃Come； let us go back now； and settle the whole thing up。〃
Miss Bartlett burst into florid gratitude。 The tavern signa
beehive trimmed evenly with beescreaked in the wind outside as
she thanked him。 Mr。 Beebe did not quite understand the
situation； but then； he did not desire to understand it； nor to
jump to the conclusion of 〃another man〃 that would have attracted
a grosser mind。 He only felt that Miss Bartlett knew of some
vague influence from which the girl desired to be delivered； and
which might well be clothed in the fleshly form。 Its very
vagueness spurred him into knight…errantry。 His belief in
celibacy； so reticent； so carefully concealed beneath his
tolerance and culture； now came to the surface and expanded like
some delicate flower。 〃They that marry do well； but they that
refrain do better。〃 So ran his belief； and he never heard that an
engagement was broken off but with a slight feeling of pleasure。
In the case of Lucy； the feeling was intensified through dislike
of Cecil； and he was willing to go furtherto place her out of
danger until she could confirm her resolution of virginity。 The
feeling was very subtle and quite undogmatic； and he never
imparted it to any other of the characters in this entanglement。
Yet it existed； and it alone explains his action subsequently；
and his influence on the action of others。 The compact that he
made with Miss Bartlett in the tavern； was to help not only Lucy；
but religion also。
They hurried home through a world of black and grey。 He conversed
on indifferent topics： the Emersons' need of a housekeeper；
servants； Italian servants； novels about Italy； novels with a
purpose； could literature influence life？ Windy Corner glimmered。
In the garden； Mrs。 Honeychurch； now helped by Freddy； still
wrestled with the lives of her flowers。
〃It gets too dark；〃 she said hopelesly。 〃This comes of putting
off。 We might have known the weather would break up soon； and now
Lucy wants to go to Greece。 I don't know what the world's coming
to。〃
〃Mrs。 Honeychurch；〃 he said； 〃go to Greece she must。 Come up to
the house and let's talk it over。 Do you； in the first place；
mind her breaking with Vyse？〃
〃Mr。 Beebe； I'm thankfulsimply thankful。〃
〃So am I；〃 said Freddy。
〃Good。 Now come up to the house。〃
They conferred in the dining…room for half an hour。
Lucy would never have carried the Greek scheme alone。 It was
expensive and dramaticboth qualities that her mother loathed。
Nor would Charlotte have succeeded。 The honours of the day rested
with Mr。 Beebe。 By his tact and common sense； and by his
influence as a clergymanfor a clergyman who was not a fool
influenced Mrs。 Honeychurch greatlyhe bent her to their
purpose； 〃I don't see why Greece is necessary；〃 she said； 〃but as
you do； I suppose it is all right。 It must be something I can't
understand。 Lucy！ Let's tell her。 Lucy！〃
〃She is playing the piano；〃