Chapter 3

rimonialpurposes.Butthedowryhadprovedinadequate,andtheacquaintanceterminated. “Howfunny!ButImeantochangeallthat.Bringyourfriendstoseeme,andIwillmakethembringtheirpeople.” Helookedatherratherhopelessly. “Well,whoaretheprincipalpeoplehere?Wholeadssociety?” Thegovernoroftheprison,hesupposed,andtheofficerswhoassistedhim. “Well,aretheymarried?” “Yes.” “Thereweare.Doyouknowthem?” “Yes—inaway.” “Isee,”sheexclaimedangrily.“Theylookdownonyou,dothey,poorboy?Wait!”Heassented.“Wait!I’llsoonstopthat.Now,whoelseisthere?” “Themarchese,sometimes,andthecanonsoftheCollegiateChurch.” “Married?” “Thecanons—”hebeganwithtwinklingeyes. “Oh,Iforgotyourhorridcelibacy.InEnglandtheywouldbethecentreofeverything.Butwhyshouldn’tIknowthem?WoulditmakeiteasierifIcalledallround?Isn’tthatyourforeignway?” Hedidnotthinkitwouldmakeiteasier. “ButImustknowsomeone!Whowerethemenyouweretalkingtothisafternoon?” Low-classmen.Hecouldscarcelyrecollecttheirnames. “But,Ginodear,ifthey’relowclass,whydidyoutalktothem?Don’tyoucareaboutyourposition?” AllGinocaredaboutatpresentwasidlenessandpocket-money,andhiswayofexpressingitwastoexclaim,“Ouf-pouf!Howhotitisinhere.NoairIsweatallover.Iexpire.Imustcoolmyself,orIshallnevergettosleep.”Inhisfunnyabruptwayheranoutontotheloggia,wherehelayfulllengthontheparapet,andbegantosmokeandspitunderthesilenceofthestars. LiliagatheredsomehowfromthisconversationthatContinentalsocietywasnotthego-as-you-pleasethingshehadexpected.IndeedshecouldnotseewhereContinentalsocietywas.Italyissuchadelightfulplacetoliveinifyouhappentobeaman.ThereonemayenjoythatexquisiteluxuryofSocialism—thattrueSocialismwhichisbasednotonequalityofincomeorcharacter,butontheequalityofmanners.Inthedemocracyofthecaffeorthestreetthegreatquestionofourlifehasbeensolved,andthebrotherhoodofmanisareality.Butisaccomplishedattheexpenseofthesisterhoodofwomen.Whyshouldyounotmakefriendswithyourneighbouratthetheatreorinthetrain,whenyouknowandheknowsthatfemininecriticismandfeminineinsightandfeminineprejudicewillnevercomebetweenyou?ThoughyoubecomeasDavidandJonathan,youneedneverenterhishome,norheyours.Allyourlivesyouwillmeetundertheopenair,theonlyroof-treeoftheSouth,underwhichhewillspitandswear,andyouwilldropyourh’s,andnobodywillthinktheworseofeither. Meanwhilethewomen—theyhave,ofcourse,theirhouseandtheirchurch,withitsadmirableandfrequentservices,towhichtheyareescortedbythemaid.Otherwisetheydonotgooutmuch,foritisnotgenteeltowalk,andyouaretoopoortokeepacarriage.Occasionallyyouwilltakethemtothecaffeortheatre,andimmediatelyallyourwontedacquaintancetheredesertyou,exceptthosefewwhoareexpectingandexpectedtomarryintoyourfamily.Itisallverysad.Butoneconsolationemerges—lifeisverypleasantinItalyifyouareaman. HithertoGinohadnotinterferedwithLilia.Shewassomucholderthanhewas,andsomuchricher,thatheregardedherasasuperiorbeingwhoansweredtootherlaws.Hewasnotwhollysurprised,forstrangerumourswerealwaysblowingovertheAlpsoflandswheremenandwomenhadthesameamusementsandinterests,andhehadoftenmetthatprivilegedmaniac,theladytourist,onhersolitarywalks.Liliatooksolitarywalkstoo,andonlythatweekatramphadgrabbedatherwatch—anepisodewhichissupposedtobeindigenousinItaly,thoughreallylessfrequenttherethaninBondStreet.Nowthatheknewherbetter,hewasinevitablylosinghisawe:noonecouldlivewithherandkeepit,especiallywhenshehadbeensosillyastoloseagoldwatchandchain.Ashelaythoughtfulalongtheparapet,herealizedforthefirsttimetheresponsibilitiesofmoniedlife.Hemustsaveherfromdangers,physicalandsocial,forafterallshewasawoman.“AndI,”hereflected,“thoughIamyoung,amatalleventsaman,andknowwhatisright.” Hefoundherstillintheliving-room,combingherhair,forshehadsomethingoftheslatterninhernature,andtherewasnoneedtokeepupappearances. “Youmustnotgooutalone,”hesaidgently.“Itisnotsafe.Ifyouwanttowalk,Perfettashallaccompanyyou.”Perfettawasawidowedcousin,toohumbleforsocialaspirations,whowaslivingwiththemasfactotum. “Verywell,”smile