Chapter 9
關燈
小
中
大
scendingthestairs.
“Remember,”shecontinued,“thereistobenorevenge.Iwillhavenomoreintentionalevil.Wearenottofightwitheachotheranymore.”
“Ishallneverforgivehim,”sighedPhilip.
“Latte!lattefreschissima!biancacomeneve!”Perfettacameinwithanotherlampandalittlejug.
Ginospokeforthefirsttime.“Putthemilkonthetable,”hesaid.“Itwillnotbewantedintheotherroom.”Theperilwasoveratlast.Agreatsobshookthewholebody,anotherfollowed,andthenhegaveapiercingcryofwoe,andstumbledtowardsMissAbbottlikeachildandclungtoher.
AllthroughthedayMissAbbotthadseemedtoPhiliplikeagoddess,andmorethaneverdidsheseemsonow.Manypeoplelookyoungerandmoreintimateduringgreatemotion.Butsometherearewholookolder,andremote,andhecouldnotthinkthattherewaslittledifferenceinyears,andnoneincomposition,betweenherandthemanwhoseheadwaslaiduponherbreast.Hereyeswereopen,fullofinfinitepityandfullofmajesty,asiftheydiscernedtheboundariesofsorrow,andsawunimaginabletractsbeyond.Sucheyeshehadseeningreatpicturesbutneverinamortal.Herhandswerefoldedroundthesufferer,strokinghimlightly,forevenagoddesscandonomorethanthat.Anditseemedfitting,too,thatsheshouldbendherheadandtouchhisforeheadwithherlips.
Philiplookedaway,ashesometimeslookedawayfromthegreatpictureswherevisibleformssuddenlybecomeinadequateforthethingstheyhaveshowntous.Hewashappyhewasassuredthattherewasgreatnessintheworld.Therecametohimanearnestdesiretobegoodthroughtheexampleofthisgoodwoman.Hewouldtryhenceforwardtobeworthyofthethingsshehadrevealed.Quietly,withouthystericalprayersorbangingofdrums,heunderwentconversion.Hewassaved.
“Thatmilk,”saidshe,“neednotbewasted.Takeit,SignorCarella,andpersuadeMr.Herritontodrink.”
Ginoobeyedher,andcarriedthechild’smilktoPhilip.AndPhilipobeyedalsoanddrank.
“Isthereanyleft?”
“Alittle,”answeredGino.
“Thenfinishit.”Forshewasdeterminedtousesuchremnantsaslieabouttheworld.
“Willyounothavesome?”
“Idonotcareformilkfinishitall.”
“Philip,haveyouhadenoughmilk?”
“Yes,thankyou,Ginofinishitall.”
Hedrankthemilk,andthen,eitherbyaccidentorinsomespasmofpain,brokethejugtopieces.Perfettaexclaimedinbewilderment.“Itdoesnotmatter,”hetoldher.“Itdoesnotmatter.Itwillneverbewantedanymore.”
