Chapter 7
關燈
小
中
大
ssAbbottturnedtogo.
“Butwhyareyougoing?ExcusemeifIwashhimwhilewetalk.”
“Ihavenothingmoretosay,”saidMissAbbott.AllshecoulddonowwastofindPhilip,confesshermiserabledefeat,andbidhimgoinhersteadandprosperbetter.Shecursedherfeeblenessshelongedtoexposeit,withoutapologiesortears.
“Oh,butstopamoment!”hecried.“Youhavenotseenhimyet.”
“IhaveseenasmuchasIwant,thankyou.”
Thelastwrappingslidoff.Heheldouttoherinhistwohandsalittlekickingimageofbronze.
“Takehim!”
Shewouldnottouchthechild.
“Imustgoatonce,”shecriedforthetears—thewrongtears—werehurryingtohereyes.
“Whowouldhavebelievedhismotherwasblonde?Forheisbrownallover—browneveryinchofhim.Ah,buthowbeautifulheis!Andheisminemineforever.Evenifhehatesmehewillbemine.HecannothelpitheismadeoutofmeIamhisfather.”
Itwastoolatetogo.Shecouldnottellwhy,butitwastoolate.SheturnedawayherheadwhenGinoliftedhissontohislips.Thiswassomethingtooremotefromtheprettinessofthenursery.ThemanwasmajestichewasapartofNatureinnoordinarylovescenecouldheeverbesogreat.Forawonderfulphysicaltiebindstheparentstothechildrenand—bysomesad,strangeirony—itdoesnotbinduschildrentoourparents.Forifitdid,ifwecouldanswertheirlovenotwithgratitudebutwithequallove,lifewouldlosemuchofitspathosandmuchofitssqualor,andwemightbewonderfullyhappy.Ginopassionatelyembracing,MissAbbottreverentlyavertinghereyes—bothofthemhadparentswhomtheydidnotlovesoverymuch.
“MayIhelpyoutowashhim?”sheaskedhumbly.
Hegaveherhissonwithoutspeaking,andtheykneltsidebyside,tuckinguptheirsleeves.Thechildhadstoppedcrying,andhisarmsandlegswereagitatedbysomeoverpoweringjoy.MissAbbotthadawoman’spleasureincleaninganything—moreespeciallywhenthethingwashuman.Sheunderstoodlittlebabiesfromlongexperienceinadistrict,andGinosoonceasedtogiveherdirections,andonlygaveherthanks.
“Itisverykindofyou,”hemurmured,“especiallyinyourbeautifuldress.Heisnearlycleanalready.Why,Itakethewholemorning!Thereissomuchmoreofababythanoneexpects.AndPerfettawasheshimjustasshewashesclothes.Thenhescreamsforhours.Mywifeistohavealighthand.Ah,howhekicks!Hashesplashedyou?Iamverysorry.”
“Iamreadyforasofttowelnow,”saidMissAbbott,whowasstrangelyexaltedbytheservice.
“Certainly!certainly!”Hestrodeinaknowingwaytoacupboard.Buthehadnoideawherethesofttowelwas.Generallyhedabbedthebabyonthefirstdrythinghefound.
“Andifyouhadanypowder.”
Hestruckhisforeheaddespairingly.Apparentlythestockofpowderwasjustexhausted.
Shesacrificedherowncleanhandkerchief.Heputachairforherontheloggia,whichfacedwestward,andwasstillpleasantandcool.Thereshesat,withtwentymilesofviewbehindher,andheplacedthedrippingbabyonherknee.Itshonenowwithhealthandbeauty:itseemedtoreflectlight,likeacoppervessel.JustsuchababyBellinisetslanguidonhismother’slap,orSignorelliflingswrigglingonpavementsofmarble,orLorenzodiCredi,morereverentbutlessdivine,layscarefullyamongflowers,withhisheaduponawispofgoldenstraw.ForatimeGinocontemplatedthemstanding.Then,togetabetterview,hekneltbythesideofthechair,withhishandsclaspedbeforehim.
SotheywerewhenPhilipentered,andsaw,toallintentsandpurposes,theVirginandChild,withDonor.
“Hullo!”heexclaimedforhewasgladtofindthingsinsuchcheerfultrim.
Shedidnotgreethim,butroseupunsteadilyandhandedthebabytohisfather.
“No,dostop!”whisperedPhilip.“Igotyournote.I’mnotoffendedyou’requiteright.IreallywantyouIcouldneverhavedoneitalone.”
Nowordscamefromher,butsheraisedherhandstohermouth,likeonewhoisinsuddenagony.
“Signorina,dostopalittle—afterallyourkindness.”
Sheburstintotears.
“Whatisit?”saidPhilipkindly.
Shetriedtospeak,andthenwentawayweepingbitterly.
Thetwomenstaredateachother.Byacommonimpulsetheyranontotheloggia.TheywerejustintimetoseeMissAbbottdisappearamongthetrees.
“Whatisit?”askedPhilipagain.Therewasnoanswer,andsomehowhedidnotwantananswer.Somestrangethinghadhappenedwhichhecouldnotpresumetounderstand.HewouldfindoutfromMissAbbott,ifeverhefoundoutatall.
“Well,yourbusiness,”saidGino,afterapuzzledsigh.
“Ourbusiness—MissAbbotthastoldyouofthat.”
“No.”
“Butsurely—”
“Shecameforbusiness.ButsheforgotaboutitsodidI.”
Perfetta,whohadageniusformissingpeople,nowreturned,loudlycomplainingofthesizeofMonterianoandtheintricaciesofitsstreets.Ginotoldhertowatchthebaby.ThenheofferedPhilipacigar,andtheyproceededtothebusiness.
