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gross lonely luxury of Mrs。 Lander's life or the unconscious poverty of
her own home； she did not show it in the presence of the world that now
opened its arms to her。 She remained so tranquil in the midst of all the
novel differences； that it made her friend feel rather vulgar in her
anxieties for her； and it was not always enough to find that she had not
gone wrong simply because she had hold still； and had the gift of waiting
for things to happen。 Sometimes when Miss Milray had almost decided that
her passivity was the calm of a savage； she betrayed so sweet and
grateful a sense of all that was done for her； that her benefactress
decided that； she was not rustic； but was sylvan in a way of her own；
and not so much ignorant as innocent。 She discovered that she was not
ignorant even of books； but with no literary effect from them she had
transmitted her reading into the substance of her native gentleness； and
had both ideas and convictions。 When Clementina most affected her as an
untried wilderness in the conventional things she most felt her equality
to any social fortune that might befall her； and then she would have
liked to see her married to a title； and taking the glory of this world
with an unconsciousness that experience would never wholly penetrate。
But then again she felt that this would be somehow a profanation； and she
wanted to pack her up and get her back to Middlemount before anything of
the kind should happen。 She gave Milray these impressions of Clementina
in the letter she wrote to thank him for her； and to scold him for
sending the girl to her。 She accused him of wishing to get off on her a
riddle which he could not read himself； but she owned that the charm of
Clementina's mystery was worth a thousand times the fatigue of trying to
guess her out and that she was more and more infatuated with her every
day。
In the meantime； Miss Milray's little dance grew upon her till it became
a very large one that filled her villa to overflowing when the time came
for it。 She lived on one of the fine avenues of the Oltrarno region；
laid out in the brief period of prosperity which Florence enjoyed as the
capital of Italy。 The villa was built at that time； and it was much
newer than the house on Seventeenth street in New York； where she spent
the girlhood that had since prolonged itself beyond middle life with her。
She had first lived abroad in the Paris of the Second Empire； and she had
been one winter in Rome； but she had settled definitely in Florence
before London became an American colony； so that her friends were chiefly
Americans； though she had a wide international acquaintance。 Perhaps her
habit of taking her brother's part； when he was a black sheep； inclined
her to mercy with people who had not been so blameless in their morals as
they were in their minds and manners。 She exacted that they should be
interesting and agreeable； and not too threadbare； but if they had
something that decently buttoned over the frayed places； she did not
frown upon their poverty。 Bohemians of all kinds liked her； Philistines
liked her too； and in such a place as Florence； where the Philistines
themselves are a little Bohemian； she might be said to be very popular。
You met persons whom you did not quite wish to meet at her house； but if
these did not meet you there； it was your loss。
On the night of the dance the line of private carriages； remises and
cabs； lined the Viale Ariosto for a mile up and down before her gates；
where young artists of both sexes arrived on foot。 By this time her
passion for Clementina was at its height。 She had Maddalena bring her
out early in the evening； and made her dress under her own eye and her
French maid's； while Maddalena went back to comfort Mrs。 Lander。
〃I hated to leave her；〃 said Clementina。 〃I don't believe she's very
well。〃
〃Isn't she always ill？〃 demanded Miss Milray。 She embraced the girl
again； as if once were not enough。 〃Clementina； if Mrs。 Lander won't
give you to me； I'm going to steal you。 Do you know what I want you to
do tonight？ I want you to stand up with me； and receive； till the
dancing begins； as if it were your coming…out。 I mean to introduce
everybody to you。 You'll be easily the prettiest girl； there； and you'll
have the nicest gown； and I don't mean that any of your charms shall be
thrown away。 You won't be frightened？〃
〃No； I don't believe I shall；〃 said Clementina。 〃You can tell me what to
do。〃
The dress she wore was of pale green； like the light seen in thin woods；
out of it shone her white shoulders； and her young face； as if rising
through the verdurous light。 The artists； to a man and woman； wished to
paint her； and severally told her so； during the evening which lasted
till morning。 She was not surprised when Lord Lioncourt appeared； toward
midnight； and astonished Miss Milray by claiming acquaintance with
Clementina。 He asked about Mrs。 Lander； and whether she had got to
Florence without losing the way； he laughed but he seemed really to care。
He took Clementina out to supper； when the time came； and she would have
topped him by half a head as she leaned on his arm； if she had not
considerately drooped and trailed a little after him。
She could not know what a triumph he was making for her； and it was
merely part of the magic of the time that Mr。 Ewins should come in
presently with one of the ladies。 He had arrived in Florence that day；
and had to be brought unasked。 He put on the effect of an old friend
with her； but Clementina's curiosity was chiefly taken with a tall
American； whom she thought very handsome。 His light yellow hair was
brushed smooth across his forehead like a well…behaving boy's； he was
dressed like the other men； but he seemed not quite happy in his evening
coat； and his gloves which he smote together uneasily from time to time。
He appeared to think that somehow the radiant Clementina would know how
he felt； he did not dance； and he professed to have found himself at the
party by a species of accident。 He told her that he was out in Europe
looking after a patent right that he had just taken hold of； and was
having only a middling good time。 He pretended surprise to hear her say
that she was having a first…rate time； and he tried to reason her out of
it。 He confessed that from the moment he came into the room he had made
up his mind to take her to supper； and had never been so disgusted in his
life as when he saw that little lord toddling off with her； and trying to
look as large as life。 He asked her what a lord was like； anyway； and he
made her laugh all the time。
He told her his name； G。 W。 Hinkle； and asked whether she would be likely
to remember it if they ever met again。
Another man who interested her very much was a young Russian； with
curling hair and neat； small features who spoke better English than she
did； and said he was going to be a writer； but had not yet decided
whether to write in Russian or French； she supposed he had wanted her
advice； but he did not wait for it； or seem to expect it。 He was very
much in earnest； while he fanned her； and his earnestness amused her as
much as the American's irony。 He asked which city of America she came
from； and when she said none； he asked which part of America。 She
answered New England； and he said； 〃Oh； yes； that is where they have the
conscience。〃 She did not know what he meant； and he put before her the
ideal of New England girlhood which he had evolved from reading American
novels。 〃Are you like that？〃 he demanded。
She laughed； and said； 〃Not a bit；〃 and asked him if he had ever met such
an American girl； and he said； frankly； No； the American girls were all
mercenary； and cared for nothing but money； or marrying titles。 He added
that he had a title； but he would not wear it。
Clementina said she did not believe she cared for titles； and then he
said； 〃But you care for money。〃 She denied it； but as if she had
confessed it； he went on： 〃The only American that I have seen with that
conscience was a man。 I will tell you of him； if you wish。〃
He did not wait for her answer。 〃It was in Naplesat Pompeii。 I saw at
the first glance that he was different from other Americans； and I
resolved to know him。 He was there in company with a stupid boy； whose
tutor he was； and he told me that he was studying to be a minister of the
Protestant church。 Next year he will go home to be consecrated。 He
promised to pass through Florence in the spring； and he will keep his
word。 Every act； every word； every thought of his is regulated by
conscience。 It is terrible； but it is beautiful。〃 All the time； the
Russian was fanning Clementina； with every outward appearance of
flirtation。 〃Will you dance again？ No？ I should like to draw such a
character as his in a romance。〃
XXII。
It was six o'clock in the morning before Miss Milray sent Clementina home
in her carriage。 She would have kept her to breakfast； but Clementina
said she ought to go on Mrs。 Lander's account； and she wished to go on
her own。
She thought she would steal to bed without waking her； but she was
stopped by the sound of groans when she entered the