Chapter 4

,shehadsatwithGinooneafternooninMarch,herheaduponhisshoulder,whileCarolinewaslookingattheviewandsketching.RoundthecornerwastheSienagate,fromwhichtheroadtoEnglandstarted,andshecouldheartherumbleofthediligencewhichwasgoingdowntocatchthenighttraintoEmpoli.Thenextmomentitwasuponher,forthehighroadcametowardsheralittlebeforeitbeganitslongzigzagdownthehill. Thedriverslackened,andcalledtohertogetin.Hedidnotknowwhoshewas.Hehopedshemightbecomingtothestation. “Nonvengo!”shecried. Hewishedhergood-night,andturnedhishorsesdownthecorner.Asthediligencecameroundshesawthatitwasempty. “Vengo...” Hervoicewastremulous,anddidnotcarry.Thehorsesswungoff. “Vengo!Vengo!” Hehadbeguntosing,andheardnothing.Sherandowntheroadscreamingtohimtostop—thatshewascomingwhilethedistancegrewgreaterandthenoiseofthediligenceincreased.Theman’sbackwasblackandsquareagainstthemoon,andifhewouldbutturnforaninstantshewouldbesaved.Shetriedtocutoffthecornerofthezigzag,stumblingoverthegreatclodsofearth,largeandhardasrocks,whichlaybetweentheeternalolives.Shewastoolatefor,justbeforesheregainedtheroad,thethingsweptpasther,thunderous,ploughingupchokingcloudsofmoonlitdust. Shedidnotcallanymore,forshefeltveryill,andfaintedandwhensherevivedshewaslyingintheroad,withdustinhereyes,anddustinhermouth,anddustdownherears.Thereissomethingveryterribleindustatnight-time. “WhatshallIdo?”shemoaned.“Hewillbesoangry.” Andwithoutfurthereffortsheslowlyclimbedbacktocaptivity,shakinghergarmentsasshewent. Illluckpursuedhertotheend.ItwasoneofthenightswhenGinohappenedtocomein.Hewasinthekitchen,swearingandsmashingplates,whilePerfetta,herapronoverherhead,wasweepingviolently.AtthesightofLiliaheturneduponherandpouredforthafloodofmiscellaneousabuse.Hewasfarmoreangrybutmuchlessalarmingthanhehadbeenthatdaywhenheedgedafterherroundthetable.AndLiliagainedmorecouragefromherbadconsciencethansheeverhadfromhergoodone,forashespokeshewasseizedwithindignationandfearedhimnolonger,andsawhimforacruel,worthless,hypocritical,dissoluteupstart,andspokeinreturn. Perfettascreamedforshetoldhimeverything—allsheknewandallshethought.Hestoodwithopenmouth,alltheangergoneoutofhim,feelingashamed,andanutterfool.Hewasfairlyandrightfullycornered.Whenhadahusbandsogivenhimselfawaybefore?Shefinishedandhewasdumb,forshehadspokentruly.Then,alas!theabsurdityofhisownpositiongrewuponhim,andhelaughed—ashewouldhavelaughedatthesamesituationonthestage. “Youlaugh?”stammeredLilia. “Ah!”hecried,“whocouldhelpit?I,whothoughtyouknewandsawnothing—Iamtricked—Iamconquered.Igivein.Letustalkofitnomore.” Hetouchedherontheshoulderlikeagoodcomrade,halfamusedandhalfpenitent,andthen,murmuringandsmilingtohimself,ranquietlyoutoftheroom. Perfettaburstintocongratulations.“Whatcourageyouhave!”shecried“andwhatgoodfortune!Heisangrynolonger!Hehasforgivenyou!” NeitherPerfetta,norGino,norLiliaherselfknewthetruereasonofallthemiserythatfollowed.Totheendhethoughtthatkindnessandalittleattentionwouldbeenoughtosetthingsstraight.Hiswifewasaveryordinarywoman,andwhyshouldherideasdifferfromhisown?Noonerealizedthatmorethanpersonalitieswereengagedthatthestrugglewasnationalthatgenerationsofancestors,good,bad,orindifferent,forbadtheLatinmantobechivalroustothenorthernwoman,thenorthernwomantoforgivetheLatinman.Allthismighthavebeenforeseen:Mrs.Herritonforesawitfromthefirst. MeanwhileLiliapridedherselfonherhighpersonalstandard,andGinosim