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her return to society。 I saw that she enjoyed it even more than
she told； she was agitated with the multitude of her impressions。
She had forgotten what an attractive thing the world is；
and it was coming over her that somehow she had for the best years
of her life been cheated of it。 This did not make her angry；
but as she looked all over the charming scene her face had； in spite
of its smile of appreciation； the flush of a sort of wounded surprise。
She became silent； as if she were thinking with a secret sadness
of opportunities； forever lost； which ought to have been easy；
and this gave me a chance to say to her； 〃Did you mean a while ago
that your aunt has a plan of keeping me on by admitting me occasionally
to her presence？〃
〃She thinks it will make a difference with you if you sometimes see her。
She wants you so much to stay that she is willing to make that concession。〃
〃And what good does she consider that I think it will do me to see her？〃
〃I don't know； she thinks it's interesting；〃 said Miss Tita simply。
〃You told her you found it so。〃
〃So I did； but everyone doesn't think so。〃
〃No； of course not； or more people would try。〃
〃Well； if she is capable of making that reflection she
is capable of making this further one；〃 I went on：
〃that I must have a particular reason for not doing as others do；
in spite of the interest she offersfor not leaving her alone。〃
Miss Tita looked as if she failed to grasp this rather
complicated proposition； so I continued； 〃If you have not told
her what I said to you the other night may she not at least
have guessed it？〃
〃I don't know； she is very suspicious。〃
〃But she has not been made so by indiscreet curiosity； by persecution？〃
〃No； no； it isn't that；〃 said Miss Tita； turning on me
a somewhat troubled face。 〃I don't know how to say it：
it's on account of somethingages ago； before I was born
in her life。〃
〃Something？ What sort of thing？〃 I asked as if I myself could
have no idea。
〃Oh； she has never told me；〃 Miss Tita answered； and I was sure
she was speaking the truth。
Her extreme limpidity was almost provoking； and I felt for the moment
that she would have been more satisfactory if she had been less ingenuous。
〃Do you suppose it's something to which Jeffrey Aspern's letters and papers
I mean the things in her possessionhave reference？〃
〃I daresay it is！〃 my companion exclaimed as if this were a very
happy suggestion。 〃I have never looked at any of those things。〃
〃None of them？ Then how do you know what they are？〃
〃I don't；〃 said Miss Tita placidly。 〃I have never had them in my hands。
But I have seen them when she has had them out。〃
〃Does she have them out often？〃
〃Not now； but she used to。 She is very fond of them。〃
〃In spite of their being compromising？〃
〃Compromising？〃 Miss Tita repeated as if she was ignorant of the meaning
of the word。 I felt almost as one who corrupts the innocence of youth。
〃I mean their containing painful memories。〃
〃Oh； I don't think they are painful。〃
〃You mean you don't think they affect her reputation？〃
At this a singular look came into the face of Miss
Bordereau's niecea kind of confession of helplessness；
an appeal to me to deal fairly； generously with her。
I had brought her to the Piazza； placed her among charming
influences； paid her an attention she appreciated； and now I
seemed to let her perceive that all this had been a bribe
a bribe to make her turn in some way against her aunt。
She was of a yielding nature and capable of doing almost anything
to please a person who was kind to her； but the greatest
kindness of all would be not to presume too much on this。
It was strange enough； as I afterward thought； that she
had not the least air of resenting my want of consideration
for her aunt's character； which would have been in the worst
possible taste if anything less vital （from my point of view）
had been at stake。 I don't think she really measured it。
〃Do you mean that she did something bad？〃 she asked in a moment。
〃Heaven forbid I should say so； and it's none of my business。
Besides； if she did；〃 I added； laughing； 〃it was in other ages；
in another world。 But why should she not destroy her papers？〃
〃Oh； she loves them too much。〃
〃Even now； when she may be near her end？〃
〃Perhaps when she's sure of that she will。〃
〃Well； Miss Tita；〃 I said； 〃it's just what I should like you to prevent。〃
〃How can I prevent it？〃
〃Couldn't you get them away from her？〃
〃And give them to you？〃
This put the case very crudely； though I am sure there was no irony
in her intention。 〃Oh； I mean that you might let me see them and look
them over。 It isn't for myself； there is no personal avidity in my desire。
It is simply that they would be of such immense interest to the public；
such immeasurable importance as a contribution to Jeffrey Aspern's history。〃
She listened to me in her usual manner； as if my speech were full of
reference to things she had never heard of； and I felt particularly like
the reporter of a newspaper who forces his way into a house of mourning。
This was especially the case when after a moment she said。 〃There was
a gentleman who some time ago wrote to her in very much those words。
He also wanted her papers。〃
〃And did she answer him？〃 I asked； rather ashamed of myself
for not having her rectitude。
〃Only when he had written two or three times。 He made her very angry。〃
〃And what did she say？〃
〃She said he was a devil；〃 Miss Tita replied simply。
〃She used that expression in her letter？〃
〃Oh； no； she said it to me。 She made me write to him。〃
〃And what did you say？〃
〃I told him there were no papers at all。〃
〃Ah； poor gentleman！〃 I exclaimed。
〃I knew there were； but I wrote what she bade me。〃
〃Of course you had to do that。 But I hope I shall not pass for a devil。〃
〃It will depend upon what you ask me to do for you；〃
said Miss Tita； smiling。
〃Oh； if there is a chance of YOUR thinking so my affair is in a bad way！
I shan't ask you to steal for me； nor even to fibfor you can't fib；
unless on paper。 But the principal thing is thisto prevent her from
destroying the papers。〃
〃Why； I have no control of her；〃 said Miss Tita。
〃It's she who controls me。〃
〃But she doesn't control her own arms and legs； does she？
The way she would naturally destroy her letters would be to burn them。
Now she can't burn them without fire； and she can't get fire unless
you give it to her。〃
〃I have always done everything she has asked；〃 my companion rejoined。
〃Besides； there's Olimpia。〃
I was on the point of saying that Olimpia was probably corruptible；
but I thought it best not to sound that note。 So I simply inquired
if that faithful domestic could not be managed。
〃Everyone can be managed by my aunt；〃 said Miss Tita。
And then she observed that her holiday was over； she must go home。
I laid my hand on her arm； across the table； to stay her a moment。
〃What I want of you is a general promise to help me。〃
〃Oh； how can Ihow can I？〃 she asked； wondering and troubled。
She was half…surprised； half…frightened at my wishing to make
her play an active part。
〃This is the main thing： to watch her carefully and warn me in time；
before she commits that horrible sacrilege。〃
〃I can't watch her when she makes me go out。〃
〃That's very true。〃
〃And when you do； too。〃
〃Mercy on us； do you think she will have done anything tonight？〃
〃I don't know； she is very cunning。〃
〃Are you trying to frighten me？〃 I asked。
I felt this inquiry sufficiently answered when my companion
murmured in a musing； almost envious way； 〃Oh； but she loves them
she loves them！〃
This reflection； repeated with such emphasis； gave me great comfort；
but to obtain more of that balm I said； 〃If she shouldn't intend
to destroy the objects we speak of before her death she will probably
have made some disposition by will。〃
〃By will？〃
〃Hasn't she made a will for your benefit？〃
〃Why； she has so little to leave。 That's why she likes money；〃
said Miss Tita。
〃Might I ask； since we are really talking things over；
what you and she live on？〃
〃On some money that comes from America； from a lawyer。
He sends it every quarter。 It isn't much！〃
〃And won't she have disposed of that？〃
My companion hesitatedI saw she was blushing。
〃I believe it's mine；〃 she said； and the look and tone which
accompanied these words betrayed so the absence of the habit
of thinking of herself that I almost thought her charming。
The next instant she added； 〃But she had a lawyer once；
ever so long ago。 And some people came and signed something。〃
〃They were probably witnesses。 And you were not asked to sign？
Well then；〃 I argued rapidly and