Chapter 3

erewereseveralofthem—andactingtheladybountiful,leavingbehindherbewilderment,andtoooftendiscontent.Ginowonderedhowitwasthatallhispeople,whohadformerlyseemedsopleasant,hadsuddenlybecomeplaintiveanddisagreeable.Heputitdowntohisladywife’smagnificence,incomparisonwithwhichallseemedcommon.Hermoneyflewapace,inspiteofthecheapliving.ShewasevenricherthanheexpectedandherememberedwithshamehowhehadonceregrettedhisinabilitytoacceptthethousandlirethatPhilipHerritonofferedhiminexchangeforher.Itwouldhavebeenashortsightedbargain. Liliaenjoyedsettlingintothehouse,withnothingtodoexceptgiveorderstosmilingworkpeople,andadevotedhusbandasinterpreter.ShewroteajauntyaccountofherhappinesstoMrs.Herriton,andHarrietansweredtheletter,saying(1)thatallfuturecommunicationsshouldbeaddressedtothesolicitors(2)wouldLiliareturnaninlaidboxwhichHarriethadlenther—butnotgiven—tokeephandkerchiefsandcollarsin? “LookwhatIamgivinguptolivewithyou!”shesaidtoGino,neveromittingtolaystressonhercondescension.Hetookhertomeantheinlaidbox,andsaidthatsheneednotgiveitupatall. “Sillyfellow,no!Imeanthelife.ThoseHerritonsareverywellconnected.TheyleadSawstonsociety.ButwhatdoIcare,solongasIhavemysillyfellow!”Shealwaystreatedhimasaboy,whichhewas,andasafool,whichhewasnot,thinkingherselfsoimmeasurablysuperiortohimthatsheneglectedopportunityafteropportunityofestablishingherrule.Hewasgood-lookingandindolentthereforehemustbestupid.Hewaspoorthereforehewouldneverdaretocriticizehisbenefactress.Hewaspassionatelyinlovewithherthereforeshecoulddoexactlyassheliked. “Itmayn’tbeheavenbelow,”shethought,“butit’sbetterthanCharles.” Andallthetimetheboywaswatchingher,andgrowingup. ShewasremindedofCharlesbyadisagreeableletterfromthesolicitors,biddingherdisgorgealargesumofmoneyforIrma,inaccordancewithherlatehusband’swill.ItwasjustlikeCharles’ssuspiciousnaturetohaveprovidedagainstasecondmarriage.Ginowasequallyindignant,andbetweenthemtheycomposedastingingreply,whichhadnoeffect.HethensaidthatIrmahadbettercomeoutandlivewiththem.“Theairisgood,soisthefoodshewillbehappyhere,andweshallnothavetopartwiththemoney.”ButLiliahadnotthecourageeventosuggestthistotheHerritons,andanunexpectedterrorseizedheratthethoughtofIrmaoranyEnglishchildbeingeducatedatMonteriano. Ginobecameterriblydepressedoverthesolicitors’letter,moredepressedthanshethoughtnecessary.Therewasnomoretodointhehouse,andhespentwholedaysintheloggialeaningovertheparapetorsittingastrideitdisconsolately. “Oh,youidleboy!”shecried,pinchinghismuscles.“Goandplaypallone.” “Iamamarriedman,”heanswered,withoutraisinghishead.“Idonotplaygamesanymore.” “Goandseeyourfriendsthen.” “Ihavenofriendsnow.” “Silly,silly,silly!Youcan’tstopindoorsallday!” “Iwanttoseenoonebutyou.”Hespatontoanolive-tree. “Now,Gino,don’tbesilly.Goandseeyourfriends,andbringthemtoseeme.Webothofuslikesociety.” Helookedpuzzled,butallowedhimselftobepersuaded,wentout,foundthathewasnotasfriendlessashesupposed,andreturnedafterseveralhoursinalteredspirits.Liliacongratulatedherselfonhergoodmanagement. “I’mready,too,forpeoplenow,”shesaid.“Imeantowakeyouallup,justasIwokeupSawston.Let’shaveplentyofmen—andmakethembringtheirwomenkind.ImeantohaverealEnglishtea-parties.” “ThereismyauntandherhusbandbutIthoughtyoudidnotwanttoreceivemyrelatives.” “Ineversaidsucha—” “Butyouwouldberight,”hesaidearnestly.“Theyarenotforyou.Manyofthemareintrade,andevenwearelittlemoreyoushouldhavegentlefolkandnobilityforyourfriends.” “Poorfellow,”thoughtLilia.“Itissadforhimtodiscoverthathispeoplearevulgar.”Shebegantotellhimthatshelovedhimjustforhissillyself,andheflushedandbegantuggingathismoustache. “ButbesidesyourrelativesImusthaveotherpeoplehere.Yourfriendshavewivesandsisters,haven’tthey?” “Oh,yesbutofcourseIscarcelyknowthem.” “Notknowyourfriends’people?” “Why,no.IftheyarepoorandhavetoworkfortheirlivingImayseethem—butnototherwise.Except—”Hestopped.Thechiefexceptionwasayounglady,towhomhehadoncebeenintroducedformat