Chapter 1

TheywereallatCharingCrosstoseeLiliaoff—Philip,Harriet,Irma,Mrs.Herritonherself.EvenMrs.Theobald,squiredbyMr.Kingcroft,hadbravedthejourneyfromYorkshiretobidheronlydaughtergood-bye.MissAbbottwaslikewiseattendedbynumerousrelatives,andthesightofsomanypeopletalkingatonceandsayingsuchdifferentthingscausedLiliatobreakintoungovernablepealsoflaughter. “Quiteanovation,”shecried,sprawlingoutofherfirst-classcarriage.“They’lltakeusforroyalty.Oh,Mr.Kingcroft,getusfoot-warmers.” Thegood-naturedyoungmanhurriedaway,andPhilip,takinghisplace,floodedherwithafinalstreamofadviceandinjunctions—wheretostop,howtolearnItalian,whentousemosquito-nets,whatpicturestolookat.“Remember,”heconcluded,“thatitisonlybygoingoffthetrackthatyougettoknowthecountry.Seethelittletowns—Gubbio,Pienza,Cortona,SanGemignano,Monteriano.Anddon’t,letmebegyou,gowiththatawfultouristideathatItaly’sonlyamuseumofantiquitiesandart.LoveandunderstandtheItalians,forthepeoplearemoremarvellousthantheland.” “HowIwishyouwerecoming,Philip,”shesaid,flatteredattheunwontednoticeherbrother-in-lawwasgivingher. “IwishIwere.”Hecouldhavemanageditwithoutgreatdifficulty,forhiscareerattheBarwasnotsointenseastopreventoccasionalholidays.ButhisfamilydislikedhiscontinualvisitstotheContinent,andhehimselfoftenfoundpleasureintheideathathewastoobusytoleavetown. “Good-bye,deareveryone.Whatawhirl!”ShecaughtsightofherlittledaughterIrma,andfeltthatatouchofmaternalsolemnitywasrequired.“Good-bye,darling.Mindyou’realwaysgood,anddowhatGrannytellsyou.” Shereferrednottoherownmother,buttohermother-in-law,Mrs.Herriton,whohatedthetitleofGranny. Irmaliftedaseriousfacetobekissed,andsaidcautiously,“I’lldomybest.” “Sheissuretobegood,”saidMrs.Herriton,whowasstandingpensivelyalittleoutofthehubbub.ButLiliawasalreadycallingtoMissAbbott,atall,grave,rathernice-lookingyoungladywhowasconductingheradieusinamoredecorousmannerontheplatform. “Caroline,myCaroline!Jumpin,oryourchaperonwillgooffwithoutyou.” AndPhilip,whomtheideaofItalyalwaysintoxicated,hadstartedagain,tellingherofthesuprememomentsofhercomingjourney—theCampanileofAirolo,whichwouldburstonherwhensheemergedfromtheSt.Gothardtunnel,presagingthefuturetheviewoftheTicinoandLagoMaggioreasthetrainclimbedtheslopesofMonteCeneretheviewofLugano,theviewofComo—Italygatheringthickaroundhernow—thearrivalatherfirstresting-place,when,afterlongdrivingthroughdarkanddirtystreets,sheshouldatlastbehold,amidtheroaroftramsandtheglareofarclamps,thebuttressesofthecathedralofMilan. “Handkerchiefsandcollars,”screamedHarriet,“inmyinlaidbox!I’velentyoumyinlaidbox.” “GoodoldHarry!”Shekissedeveryoneagain,andtherewasamoment’ssilence.Theyallsmiledsteadily,exceptingPhilip,whowaschokinginthefog,andoldMrs.Theobald,whohadbeguntocry.MissAbbottgotintothecarriage.Theguardhimselfshutthedoor,andtoldLiliathatshewouldbeallright.Thenthetrainmoved,andtheyallmovedwithitacoupleofsteps,andwavedtheirhandkerchiefs,andutteredcheerfullittlecries.AtthatmomentMr.Kingcroftreappeared,carryingafootwarmerbybothends,asifitwasatea-tray.Hewassorrythathewastoolate,andcalledoutinaquiveringvoice,“Good-bye,Mrs.Charles.Mayyouenjoyyourself,andmayGodblessyou.” Liliasmiledandnodded,andthentheabsurdpositionofthefoot-warmerovercameher,andshebegantolaughagain. “Oh,Iamsosorry,”shecriedback,“butyoudolooksofunny.Oh,youalllooksofunnywaving!Oh,pray!”Andlaughinghelplessly,shewascarriedoutintothefog. “Highspiritstobeginsolongajourney,”saidMrs.Theobald,dabbinghereyes. Mr.Kingcroftsolemnlymovedhisheadintokenofagreement.“Iwish,”saidhe,“thatMrs.Charleshadgottenthefootwarmer.TheseLondonporterswon’ttakeheedtoacountrychap.” “Butyoudidyourbest,”saidMrs.Herriton.“AndIthinkitsimplynobleofyoutohavebroughtMrs.Theobaldallthewayhereonsuchadayasthis.”Then,ratherhastily,sheshookhands,andlefthimtotakeMrs.Theobaldallthewayback. Sawston,herownhome,waswithineasyreachofLondon,andtheywerenotlatefortea.Teawasinthedining-room,withaneggforIrma,tokeepupthechild’sspirits.Thehouseseemedstrangelyquietafterafortnight’sbustle,andtheirconversationwasspasmodicandsubdued.TheywonderedwhetherthetravellershadgottoFolkestone,whetheritwouldbeatallrough,andifsowhatwouldhappentopoorMissAbbott. “And,Granny,whenwilltheoldshipgettoItaly?”askedIrma. “‘Grandmother,’dearnot‘Granny,’”saidMrs.Herriton,givingherakiss.“Andwesay‘aboat’or‘asteamer,’not‘aship.’Shipshavesails.Andmotherwon’tgoallthewaybysea.YoulookatthemapofEurope,andyou’llseewhy.Harriet,takeher.GowithAuntHarriet,andshe’llshowyouthemap.” “Righto!”saidthelittlegirl,anddraggedthereluctantHarrietintothelibrary.Mrs.Herritonandhersonwereleftalone.T