Chapter 7

Shesuggested,withgentlesarcasm,thatperhapshehadgonetoPoggibonsitofindsomethingtodo. Heintimatedthatitwasnotasimportantasallthat.Somethingtodo—analmosthopelessquest!“Emancaquesto!”Herubbedhisthumbandforefingertogether,toindicatethathehadnomoney.Thenhesighed,andblewanothersmoke-ring.MissAbbotttookheartandturneddiplomatic. “Thishouse,”shesaid,“isalargehouse.” “Exactly,”washisgloomyreply.“Andwhenmypoorwifedied—”Hegotup,wentin,andwalkedacrossthelandingtothereception-roomdoor,whichheclosedreverently.Thenheshutthedooroftheliving-roomwithhisfoot,returnedbrisklytohisseat,andcontinuedhissentence.“WhenmypoorwifediedIthoughtofhavingmyrelativestolivehere.MyfatherwishedtogiveuphispracticeatEmpolimymotherandsistersandtwoauntswerealsowilling.Butitwasimpossible.Theyhavetheirwaysofdoingthings,andwhenIwasyoungerIwascontentwiththem.ButnowIamaman.Ihavemyownways.Doyouunderstand?” “Yes,Ido,”saidMissAbbott,thinkingofherowndearfather,whosetricksandhabits,aftertwenty-fiveyearsspentintheircompany,werebeginningtogetonhernerves.Sheremembered,though,thatshewasnotheretosympathizewithGino—atallevents,nottoshowthatshesympathized.Shealsoremindedherselfthathewasnotworthyofsympathy.“Itisalargehouse,”sherepeated. “Immenseandthetaxes!Butitwillbebetterwhen—Ah!butyouhaveneverguessedwhyIwenttoPoggibonsi—whyitwasthatIwasoutwhenhecalled.” “Icannotguess,SignorCarella.Iamhereonbusiness.” “Buttry.” “IcannotIhardlyknowyou.” “Butweareoldfriends,”hesaid,“andyourapprovalwillbegratefultome.Yougaveitmeoncebefore.Willyougiveitnow?” “Ihavenotcomeasafriendthistime,”sheansweredstiffly.“Iamnotlikely,SignorCarella,toapproveofanythingyoudo.” “Oh,Signorina!”Helaughed,asifhefoundherpiquantandamusing.“Surelyyouapproveofmarriage?” “Wherethereislove,”saidMissAbbott,lookingathimhard.Hisfacehadalteredinthelastyear,butnotfortheworse,whichwasbaffling. “Wherethereislove,”saidhe,politelyechoingtheEnglishview.Thenhesmiledonher,expectingcongratulations. “DoIunderstandthatyouareproposingtomarryagain?” Henodded. “Iforbidyou,then!” Helookedpuzzled,buttookitforsomeforeignbanter,andlaughed. “Iforbidyou!”repeatedMissAbbott,andalltheindignationofhersexandhernationalitywentthrillingthroughthewords. “Butwhy?”Hejumpedup,frowning.Hisvoicewassqueakyandpetulant,likethatofachildwhoissuddenlyforbiddenatoy. “YouhaveruinedonewomanIforbidyoutoruinanother.ItisnotayearsinceLiliadied.Youpretendedtometheotherdaythatyoulovedher.Itisalie.Youwantedhermoney.Hasthiswomanmoneytoo?” “Why,yes!”hesaidirritably.“Alittle.” “AndIsupposeyouwillsaythatyouloveher.” “Ishallnotsayit.Itwillbeuntrue.Nowmypoorwife—”Hestopped,seeingthatthecomparisonwouldinvolvehimindifficulties.AndindeedhehadoftenfoundLiliaasagreeableasanyoneelse. MissAbbottwasfuriousatthisfinalinsulttoherdeadacquaintance.Shewasgladthatafterallshecouldbesoangrywiththeboy.Sheglowedandthrobbedhertonguemovednimbly.Atthefinish,iftherealbusinessofthedayhadbeencompleted,shecouldhavesweptmajesticallyfromthehouse.Butthebabystillremained,asleeponadirtyrug. Ginowasthoughtful,andstoodscratchinghishead.HerespectedMissAbbott.Hewishedthatshewouldrespecthim.“Soyoudonotadviseme?”hesaiddolefully.“Butwhyshoulditbeafailure?” MissAbbotttriedtorememberthathewasreallyachildstill—achildwiththestrengthandthepassionsofadisreputableman.“Howcanitsucceed,”shesaidsolemnly,“wherethereisnolove?” “Butshedoesloveme!Iforgottotellyouthat.” “Indeed.” “Passionately.”Helaidhishanduponhisownheart. “ThenGodhelpher!” Hestampedimpatiently.“WhateverIsaydispleasesyou,Signorina.Godhelpyou,foryouaremostunfair.YousaythatIill-treatedmydearwife.Itisnotso.Ihaveneverill-treatedanyone.Youcomplainthatthereisnoloveinthismarriage.Iprovethatthereis,andyoubecomestillmoreangry.Whatdoyouwant?Doyousupposeshewillnotbecontented?Gladenoughsheistogetme,andshewilldoherdutywell.” “Herduty!”criedMissAbbott,withallthebitternessofwhichshewascapable. “Why,ofcourse.SheknowswhyIammarryingher.” “TosucceedwhereLiliafailed!Tobeyourhousekeeper,yourslave,you—”Thewordsshewouldliketohavesaidweretooviolentforher. “Tolookafterthebaby,certainly,”saidhe. “Thebaby—?”Shehadforgottenit. “ItisanEnglishmarriage,”hesaidproudly.“Idonotcareaboutthemoney.Iamhavingherformyson.Didyounotunderstandthat?”