Chapter 3

eoverthemismuch.”Hesigheddolefully,asifhefoundthenobilityofhissexaburden. “OneIhaveseenwhomaybeso.Shespokeverylittle,butshewasayounglady—differenttomost.She,too,wasEnglish,thecompanionofmywifehere.ButFraFilippo,thebrother-in-law,tookherbackwithhim.Isawthemstart.Hewasveryangry.” Thenhespokeofhisexcitingandsecretmarriage,andtheymadefunoftheunfortunatePhilip,whohadtravelledoverEuropetostopit. “Iregretthough,”saidGino,whentheyhadfinishedlaughing,“thatItoppledhimontothebed.Agreattallman!AndwhenIamreallyamusedIamoftenimpolite.” “Youwillneverseehimagain,”saidSpiridione,whocarriedplentyofphilosophyabouthim.“Andbynowthescenewillhavepassedfromhismind.” “Itsometimeshappensthatsuchthingsarerecollectedlongest.Ishallneverseehimagain,ofcoursebutitisnobenefittomethatheshouldwishmeill.Andevenifhehasforgotten,IamstillsorrythatItoppledhimontothebed.” Sotheirtalkcontinued,atonemomentfullofchildishnessandtenderwisdom,thenextmomentscandalouslygross.Theshadowsoftheterra-cottapillarslengthened,andtourists,flyingthroughthePalazzoPubblicoopposite,couldobservehowtheItalianswastedtime. ThesightoftouristsremindedGinoofsomethinghemightsay.“Iwanttoconsultyousinceyouaresokindastotakeaninterestinmyaffairs.Mywifewishestotakesolitarywalks.” Spiridionewasshocked. “ButIhaveforbiddenher.” “Naturally.” “Shedoesnotyetunderstand.Sheaskedmetoaccompanyhersometimes—towalkwithoutobject!Youknow,shewouldlikemetobewithherallday.” “Isee.Isee.”Heknittedhisbrowsandtriedtothinkhowhecouldhelphisfriend.“Sheneedsemployment.IssheaCatholic?” “No.” “Thatisapity.Shemustbepersuaded.Itwillbeagreatsolacetoherwhensheisalone.” “IamaCatholic,butofcourseInevergotochurch.” “Ofcoursenot.Still,youmighttakeheratfirst.ThatiswhatmybrotherhasdonewithhiswifeatBolognaandhehasjoinedtheFreeThinkers.Hetookheronceortwicehimself,andnowshehasacquiredthehabitandcontinuestogowithouthim.” “Mostexcellentadvice,andIthankyouforit.Butshewishestogivetea-parties—menandwomentogetherwhomshehasneverseen.” “Oh,theEnglish!theyarealwaysthinkingoftea.Theycarryitbythekilogrammeintheirtrunks,andtheyaresoclumsythattheyalwayspackitatthetop.Butitisabsurd!” “WhatamItodoaboutit?” “Donothing.Oraskme!” “Come!”criedGino,springingup.“Shewillbequitepleased.” Thedashingyoungfellowcolouredcrimson.“OfcourseIwasonlyjoking.” “Iknow.Butshewantsmetotakemyfriends.Comenow!Waiter!” “IfIdocome,”criedtheother,“andtaketeawithyou,thisbillmustbemyaffair.” “Certainlynotyouareinmycountry!” Alongargumentensued,inwhichthewaitertookpart,suggestingvarioussolutions.AtlastGinotriumphed.Thebillcametoeightpence-halfpenny,andahalfpennyforthewaiterbroughtituptoninepence.Thentherewasashowerofgratitudeononesideandofdeprecationontheother,andwhencourtesieswereattheirheighttheysuddenlylinkedarmsandswungdownthestreet,ticklingeachotherwithlemonadestrawsastheywent. Liliawasdelightedtoseethem,andbecamemoreanimatedthanGinohadknownherforalongtime.Theteatastedofchoppedhay,andtheyaskedtobeallowedtodrinkitoutofawine-glass,andrefusedmilkbut,assherepeatedlyobserved,thiswassomethinglike.Spiridione’smannerswereveryagreeable.Hekissedherhandonintroduction,andashisprofessionhadtaughthimalittleEnglish,conversationdidnotflag. “Doyoulikemusic?”sheasked. “Passionately,”hereplied.“Ihavenotstudiedscientificmusic,butthemusicoftheheart,yes.” Sosheplayedonthehummingpianoverybadly,andhesang,notsobadly.Ginogotoutaguitarandsangtoo,sittingoutontheloggia.Itwasamostagreeablevisit. Ginosaidhewouldjustwalkhisfriendbacktohislodgings.Astheywenthesaid,withouttheleasttraceofmaliceorsatireinhisvoice,“Ithinkyouarequiteright.Ishallnotbringpeopletothehouseanymore.IdonotseewhyanEnglishwifeshouldbetreateddifferently.ThisisItaly.” “Youareverywise,”exclaimedtheother“verywiseindeed.Themorepreciousapossessionthemorecarefullyitshouldbeguarded.” Theyhadreachedthelodging,butwentonasfarastheCaffeGaribaldi,wheretheyspentalongandmostdelightfulevening.