第1章

I。TheBertoliniII。InSantaCrocewithNoBaedekerIII。Music，Violets，andtheLetter"S"

IV。FourthChapterV。PossibilitiesofaPleasantOutingVI。TheReverendArthurBeebe，theReverendCuthbertEager，Mr。Emerson，Mr。GeorgeEmerson，MissEleanorLavish，MissCharlotteBartlett，andMissLucyHoneychurchDriveOutinCarriagestoSeeaView；ItaliansDriveThemVII。TheyReturnPARTTWO

VIII。MedievalIX。LucyasaWorkofArtX。CecilasaHumouristXI。InMrs。Vyse"sWell-AppointedFlatXII。TwelfthChapterXIII。HowMissBartlett"sBoilerWasSoTiresomeXIV。HowLucyFacedtheExternalSituationBravelyXV。TheDisasterWithinXVI。LyingtoGeorgeXVII。LyingtoCecilXVIII。LyingtoMr。Beebe，Mrs。Honeychurch，Freddy，andtheServantsXIX。LyingtoMr。EmersonXX。TheEndoftheMiddleAgesChapterI:TheBertoliniTheSignorahadnobusinesstodoit，"saidMissBartlett，"nobusinessatall。Shepromisedussouthroomswithaviewclosetogether，insteadofwhichherearenorthrooms，lookingintoacourtyard，andalongwayapart。Oh，Lucy!"

"AndaCockney，besides!"saidLucy，whohadbeenfurthersaddenedbytheSignora"sunexpectedaccent。"ItmightbeLondon。”ShelookedatthetworowsofEnglishpeoplewhoweresittingatthetable；attherowofwhitebottlesofwaterandredbottlesofwinethatranbetweentheEnglishpeople；attheportraitsofthelateQueenandthelatePoetLaureatethathungbehindtheEnglishpeople，heavilyframed；atthenoticeoftheEnglishchurch(Rev。CuthbertEager，M。A。Oxon。)，thatwastheonlyotherdecorationofthewall。"Charlotte，don"tyoufeel，too，thatwemightbeinLondon？Icanhardlybelievethatallkindsofotherthingsarejustoutside。Isupposeitisone"sbeingsotired。”

"Thismeathassurelybeenusedforsoup，"saidMissBartlett，layingdownherfork。

"IwantsotoseetheArno。TheroomstheSignorapromisedusinherletterwouldhavelookedovertheArno。TheSignorahadnobusinesstodoitatall。Oh，itisashame!"

"Anynookdoesforme，"MissBartlettcontinued；"butitdoesseemhardthatyoushouldn"thaveaview。”

Lucyfeltthatshehadbeenselfish。"Charlotte，youmustn"tspoilme:ofcourse，youmustlookovertheArno，too。Imeantthat。Thefirstvacantroominthefront——"——

"Youmusthaveit，"saidMissBartlett，partofwhosetravellingexpenseswerepaidbyLucy"smother——apieceofgenerositytowhichshemademanyatactfulallusion。

"No，no。Youmusthaveit。”

"Iinsistonit。Yourmotherwouldneverforgiveme，Lucy。”

"Shewouldneverforgiveme。”

Theladies"voicesgrewanimated，and——ifthesadtruthbeowned——alittlepeevish。Theyweretired，andundertheguiseofunselfishnesstheywrangled。Someoftheirneighboursinterchangedglances，andoneofthem——oneoftheill-bredpeoplewhomonedoesmeetabroad——leantforwardoverthetableandactuallyintrudedintotheirargument。Hesaid:

"Ihaveaview，Ihaveaview。”

MissBartlettwasstartled。Generallyatapensionpeoplelookedthemoverforadayortwobeforespeaking，andoftendidnotfindoutthattheywould"do"tilltheyhadgone。Sheknewthattheintruderwasill-bred，evenbeforesheglancedathim。

Hewasanoldman，ofheavybuild，withafair，shavenfaceandlargeeyes。Therewassomethingchildishinthoseeyes，thoughitwasnotthechildishnessofsenility。WhatexactlyitwasMissBartlettdidnotstoptoconsider，forherglancepassedontohisclothes。Thesedidnotattracther。Hewasprobablytryingtobecomeacquaintedwiththembeforetheygotintotheswim。Sosheassumedadazedexpressionwhenhespoketoher，andthensaid:"Aview？Oh，aview!Howdelightfulaviewis!"

"Thisismyson，"saidtheoldman；"hisname"sGeorge。Hehasaviewtoo。”

"Ah，"saidMissBartlett，repressingLucy，whowasabouttospeak。

"WhatImean，"hecontinued，"isthatyoucanhaveourrooms，andwe"llhaveyours。We"llchange。”

Thebetterclassoftouristwasshockedatthis，andsympathizedwiththenew-comers。MissBartlett，inreply，openedhermouthaslittleaspossible，andsaid"Thankyouverymuchindeed；thatisoutofthequestion。”

"Why？"saidtheoldman，withbothfistsonthetable。

"Becauseitisquiteoutofthequestion，thankyou。”

"Yousee，wedon"tliketotake——"beganLucy。Hercousinagainrepressedher。

"Butwhy？"hepersisted。"Womenlikelookingataview；mendon"t。”Andhethumpedwithhisfistslikeanaughtychild，andturnedtohisson，saying，"George，persuadethem!"

"It"ssoobvioustheyshouldhavetherooms，"saidtheson。

"There"snothingelsetosay。”

Hedidnotlookattheladiesashespoke，buthisvoicewasperplexedandsorrowful。Lucy，too，wasperplexed；butshesawthattheywereinforwhatisknownas"quiteascene，"andshehadanoddfeelingthatwhenevertheseill-bredtouristsspokethecontestwidenedanddeepenedtillitdealt，notwithroomsandviews，butwith——well，withsomethingquitedifferent，whoseexistenceshehadnotrealizedbefore。NowtheoldmanattackedMissBartlettalmostviolently:Whyshouldshenotchange？Whatpossibleobjectionhadshe？Theywouldclearoutinhalfanhour。

MissBartlett，thoughskilledinthedelicaciesofconversation，waspowerlessinthepresenceofbrutality。Itwasimpossibletosnubanyonesogross。Herfacereddenedwithdispleasure。Shelookedaroundasmuchastosay，"Areyoualllikethis？"Andtwolittleoldladies，whoweresittingfurtherupthetable，withshawlshangingoverthebacksofthechairs，lookedback，clearlyindicating"Wearenot；wearegenteel。”

"Eatyourdinner，dear，"shesaidtoLucy，andbegantotoyagainwiththemeatthatshehadoncecensured。

Lucymumbledthatthoseseemedveryoddpeopleopposite。

"Eatyourdinner，dear。Thispensionisafailure。To-morrowwewillmakeachange。”

Hardlyhadsheannouncedthisfelldecisionwhenshereversedit。

Thecurtainsattheendoftheroomparted，andrevealedaclergyman，stoutbutattractive，whohurriedforwardtotakehisplaceatthetable，cheerfullyapologizingforhislateness。

Lucy，whohadnotyetacquireddecency，atoncerosetoherfeet，exclaiming:"Oh，oh!Why，it"sMr。Beebe!Oh，howperfectlylovely!Oh，Charlotte，wemuststopnow，howeverbadtheroomsare。Oh!"

MissBartlettsaid，withmorerestraint:

"Howdoyoudo，Mr。Beebe？Iexpectthatyouhaveforgottenus:MissBartlettandMissHoneychurch，whowereatTunbridgeWellswhenyouhelpedtheVicarofSt。Peter"sthatverycoldEaster。”

Theclergyman，whohadtheairofoneonaholiday，didnotremembertheladiesquiteasclearlyastheyrememberedhim。ButhecameforwardpleasantlyenoughandacceptedthechairintowhichhewasbeckonedbyLucy。

"IAMsogladtoseeyou，"saidthegirl，whowasinastateofspiritualstarvation，andwouldhavebeengladtoseethewaiterifhercousinhadpermittedit。"Justfancyhowsmalltheworldis。SummerStreet，too，makesitsospeciallyfunny。”

"MissHoneychurchlivesintheparishofSummerStreet，"saidMissBartlett，fillingupthegap，"andshehappenedtotellmeinthecourseofconversationthatyouhavejustacceptedtheliving——"

"Yes，Iheardfrommothersolastweek。Shedidn"tknowthatI

knewyouatTunbridgeWells；butIwrotebackatonce，andI

said:"Mr。Beebeis——""

"Quiteright，"saidtheclergyman。"ImoveintotheRectoryatSummerStreetnextJune。Iamluckytobeappointedtosuchacharmingneighbourhood。”

"Oh，howgladIam!ThenameofourhouseisWindyCorner。”Mr。

Beebebowed。

"Thereismotherandmegenerally，andmybrother，thoughit"snotoftenwegethimtoch——Thechurchisratherfaroff，Imean。”

"Lucy，dearest，letMr。Beebeeathisdinner。”

"Iameatingit，thankyou，andenjoyingit。”

HepreferredtotalktoLucy，whoseplayingheremembered，ratherthantoMissBartlett，whoprobablyrememberedhissermons。HeaskedthegirlwhethersheknewFlorencewell，andwasinformedatsomelengththatshehadneverbeentherebefore。Itisdelightfultoadviseanewcomer，andhewasfirstinthefield。

"Don"tneglectthecountryround，"hisadviceconcluded。"ThefirstfineafternoondriveuptoFiesole，androundbySettignano，orsomethingofthatsort。”

"No!"criedavoicefromthetopofthetable。"Mr。Beebe，youarewrong。ThefirstfineafternoonyourladiesmustgotoPrato。”

"Thatladylookssoclever，"whisperedMissBartletttohercousin。"Weareinluck。”

And，indeed，aperfecttorrentofinformationburstonthem。

Peopletoldthemwhattosee，whentoseeit，howtostoptheelectrictrams，howtogetridofthebeggars，howmuchtogiveforavellumblotter，howmuchtheplacewouldgrowuponthem。

ThePensionBertolinihaddecided，almostenthusiastically，thattheywoulddo。Whicheverwaytheylooked，kindladiessmiledandshoutedatthem。Andaboveallrosethevoiceofthecleverlady，crying:"Prato!TheymustgotoPrato。Thatplaceistoosweetlysqualidforwords。Iloveit；Irevelinshakingoffthetrammelsofrespectability，asyouknow。”

TheyoungmannamedGeorgeglancedatthecleverlady，andthenreturnedmoodilytohisplate。Obviouslyheandhisfatherdidnotdo。Lucy，inthemidstofhersuccess，foundtimetowishtheydid。Itgavehernoextrapleasurethatanyoneshouldbeleftinthecold；andwhensherosetogo，sheturnedbackandgavethetwooutsidersanervouslittlebow。

Thefatherdidnotseeit；thesonacknowledgedit，notbyanotherbow，butbyraisinghiseyebrowsandsmiling；heseemedtobesmilingacrosssomething。

Shehastenedafterhercousin，whohadalreadydisappearedthroughthecurtains——curtainswhichsmoteoneintheface，andseemedheavywithmorethancloth。BeyondthemstoodtheunreliableSignora，bowinggood-eveningtoherguests，andsupportedby"Enery，herlittleboy，andVictorier，herdaughter。Itmadeacuriouslittlescene，thisattemptoftheCockneytoconveythegraceandgenialityoftheSouth。Andevenmorecuriouswasthedrawing-room，whichattemptedtorivalthesolidcomfortofaBloomsburyboarding-house。WasthisreallyItaly？

MissBartlettwasalreadyseatedonatightlystuffedarm-chair，whichhadthecolourandthecontoursofatomato。ShewastalkingtoMr。Beebe，andasshespoke，herlongnarrowheaddrovebackwardsandforwards，slowly，regularly，asthoughsheweredemolishingsomeinvisibleobstacle。"Wearemostgratefultoyou，"shewassaying。"Thefirsteveningmeanssomuch。Whenyouarrivedwewereinforapeculiarlymauvaisquartd"heure。”

Heexpressedhisregret。

"Doyou，byanychance，knowthenameofanoldmanwhosatoppositeusatdinner？"

"Emerson。”

"Isheafriendofyours？"

"Wearefriendly——asoneisinpensions。”

"ThenIwillsaynomore。”

Hepressedherveryslightly，andshesaidmore。

"Iam，asitwere，"sheconcluded，"thechaperonofmyyoungcousin，Lucy，anditwouldbeaseriousthingifIputherunderanobligationtopeopleofwhomweknownothing。Hismannerwassomewhatunfortunate。IhopeIactedforthebest。”

"Youactedverynaturally，"saidhe。Heseemedthoughtful，andafterafewmomentsadded:"Allthesame，Idon"tthinkmuchharmwouldhavecomeofaccepting。”

"Noharm，ofcourse。Butwecouldnotbeunderanobligation。”

"Heisratherapeculiarman。”Againhehesitated，andthensaidgently:"Ithinkhewouldnottakeadvantageofyouracceptance，norexpectyoutoshowgratitude。Hehasthemerit——ifitisone——ofsayingexactlywhathemeans。Hehasroomshedoesnotvalue，andhethinksyouwouldvaluethem。Henomorethoughtofputtingyouunderanobligationthanhethoughtofbeingpolite。

Itissodifficult——atleast，Ifinditdifficult——tounderstandpeoplewhospeakthetruth。”

Lucywaspleased，andsaid:"Iwashopingthathewasnice；Idosoalwayshopethatpeoplewillbenice。”

"Ithinkheis；niceandtiresome。Idifferfromhimonalmosteverypointofanyimportance，andso，Iexpect——ImaysayI

hope——youwilldiffer。Buthisisatypeonedisagreeswithratherthandeplores。Whenhefirstcameherehenotunnaturallyputpeople"sbacksup。Hehasnotactandnomanners——Idon"tmeanbythatthathehasbadmanners——andhewillnotkeephisopinionstohimself。WenearlycomplainedabouthimtoourdepressingSignora，butIamgladtosaywethoughtbetterofit。”

"AmItoconclude，"saidMissBartlett，"thatheisaSocialist？"

Mr。Beebeacceptedtheconvenientword，notwithoutaslighttwitchingofthelips。

"AndpresumablyhehasbroughtuphissontobeaSocialist，too？"

"IhardlyknowGeorge，forhehasn"tlearnttotalkyet。Heseemsanicecreature，andIthinkhehasbrains。Ofcourse，hehasallhisfather"smannerisms，anditisquitepossiblethathe，too，maybeaSocialist。”

"Oh，yourelieveme，"saidMissBartlett。"SoyouthinkIoughttohaveacceptedtheiroffer？YoufeelIhavebeennarrow-mindedandsuspicious？"

"Notatall，"heanswered；"Ineversuggestedthat。”

"ButoughtInottoapologize，atallevents，formyapparentrudeness？"

Hereplied，withsomeirritation，thatitwouldbequiteunnecessary，andgotupfromhisseattogotothesmoking-room。

"WasIabore？"saidMissBartlett，assoonashehaddisappeared。"Whydidn"tyoutalk，Lucy？Heprefersyoungpeople，I"msure。IdohopeIhaven"tmonopolizedhim。Ihopedyouwouldhavehimalltheevening，aswellasalldinner-time。”

"Heisnice，"exclaimedLucy。"JustwhatIremember。Heseemstoseegoodineveryone。Noonewouldtakehimforaclergyman。”

"MydearLucia——"

"Well，youknowwhatImean。Andyouknowhowclergymengenerallylaugh；Mr。Beebelaughsjustlikeanordinaryman。”

"Funnygirl!Howyoudoremindmeofyourmother。IwonderifshewillapproveofMr。Beebe。”

"I"msureshewill；andsowillFreddy。”

"IthinkeveryoneatWindyCornerwillapprove；itisthefashionableworld。IamusedtoTunbridgeWells，whereweareallhopelesslybehindthetimes。”

"Yes，"saidLucydespondently。

Therewasahazeofdisapprovalintheair，butwhetherthedisapprovalwasofherself，orofMr。Beebe，orofthefashionableworldatWindyCorner，orofthenarrowworldatTunbridgeWells，shecouldnotdetermine。Shetriedtolocateit，butasusualsheblundered。MissBartlettsedulouslydenieddisapprovingofanyone，andadded"Iamafraidyouarefindingmeaverydepressingcompanion。”

Andthegirlagainthought:"Imusthavebeenselfishorunkind；

Imustbemorecareful。ItissodreadfulforCharlotte，beingpoor。”

Fortunatelyoneofthelittleoldladies，whoforsometimehadbeensmilingverybenignly，nowapproachedandaskedifshemightbeallowedtositwhereMr。Beebehadsat。Permissiongranted，shebegantochattergentlyaboutItaly，theplungeithadbeentocomethere，thegratifyingsuccessoftheplunge，theimprovementinhersister"shealth，thenecessityofclosingthebed-roomwindowsatnight，andofthoroughlyemptyingthewater-bottlesinthemorning。Shehandledhersubjectsagreeably，andtheywere，perhaps，moreworthyofattentionthanthehighdiscourseuponGuelfsandGhibellineswhichwasproceedingtempestuouslyattheotherendoftheroom。Itwasarealcatastrophe，notamereepisode，thateveningofhersatVenice，whenshehadfoundinherbedroomsomethingthatisoneworsethanaflea，thoughonebetterthansomethingelse。

"ButhereyouareassafeasinEngland。SignoraBertoliniissoEnglish。”

"Yetourroomssmell，"saidpoorLucy。"Wedreadgoingtobed。”

"Ah，thenyoulookintothecourt。”Shesighed。"IfonlyMr。

Emersonwasmoretactful!Weweresosorryforyouatdinner。”

"Ithinkhewasmeaningtobekind。”

"Undoubtedlyhewas，"saidMissBartlett。

"Mr。Beebehasjustbeenscoldingmeformysuspiciousnature。Ofcourse，Iwasholdingbackonmycousin"saccount。”

"Ofcourse，"saidthelittleoldlady；andtheymurmuredthatonecouldnotbetoocarefulwithayounggirl。

Lucytriedtolookdemure，butcouldnothelpfeelingagreatfool。Noonewascarefulwithherathome；or，atallevents，shehadnotnoticedit。

"AboutoldMr。Emerson——Ihardlyknow。No，heisnottactful；

yet，haveyouevernoticedthattherearepeoplewhodothingswhicharemostindelicate，andyetatthesametime——beautiful？"

"Beautiful？"saidMissBartlett，puzzledattheword。"Arenotbeautyanddelicacythesame？"

"Soonewouldhavethought，"saidtheotherhelplessly。"Butthingsaresodifficult，Isometimesthink。”

Sheproceedednofurtherintothings，forMr。Beebereappeared，lookingextremelypleasant。

"MissBartlett，"hecried，"it"sallrightabouttherooms。I"msoglad。Mr。Emersonwastalkingaboutitinthesmoking-room，andknowingwhatIdid，Iencouragedhimtomaketheofferagain。

Hehasletmecomeandaskyou。Hewouldbesopleased。”

"Oh，Charlotte，"criedLucytohercousin，"wemusthavetheroomsnow。Theoldmanisjustasniceandkindashecanbe。”

MissBartlettwassilent。

"Ifear，"saidMr。Beebe，afterapause，"thatIhavebeenofficious。Imustapologizeformyinterference。”

Gravelydispleased，heturnedtogo。NottillthendidMissBartlettreply:"Myownwishes，dearestLucy，areunimportantincomparisonwithyours。ItwouldbehardindeedifIstoppedyoudoingasyoulikedatFlorence，whenIamonlyherethroughyourkindness。Ifyouwishmetoturnthesegentlemenoutoftheirrooms，Iwilldoit。Wouldyouthen，Mr。Beebe，kindlytellMr。

EmersonthatIaccepthiskindoffer，andthenconducthimtome，inorderthatImaythankhimpersonally？"

Sheraisedhervoiceasshespoke；itwasheardalloverthedrawing-room，andsilencedtheGuelfsandtheGhibellines。Theclergyman，inwardlycursingthefemalesex，bowed，anddepartedwithhermessage。

"Remember，Lucy，Ialoneamimplicatedinthis。Idonotwishtheacceptancetocomefromyou。Grantmethat，atallevents。”

Mr。Beebewasback，sayingrathernervously:

"Mr。Emersonisengaged，buthereishissoninstead。”

Theyoungmangazeddownonthethreeladies，whofeltseatedonthefloor，solowweretheirchairs。

"Myfather，"hesaid，"isinhisbath，soyoucannotthankhimpersonally。Butanymessagegivenbyyoutomewillbegivenbymetohimassoonashecomesout。”

MissBartlettwasunequaltothebath。Allherbarbedcivilitiescameforthwrongendfirst。YoungMr。EmersonscoredanotabletriumphtothedelightofMr。BeebeandtothesecretdelightofLucy。

"Pooryoungman!"saidMissBartlett，assoonashehadgone。

"Howangryheiswithhisfatherabouttherooms!Itisallhecandotokeeppolite。”

"Inhalfanhourorsoyourroomswillbeready，"saidMr。Beebe。

Thenlookingratherthoughtfullyatthetwocousins，heretiredtohisownrooms，towriteuphisphilosophicdiary。

"Oh，dear!"breathedthelittleoldlady，andshudderedasifallthewindsofheavenhadenteredtheapartment。"Gentlemensometimesdonotrealize——"Hervoicefadedaway，butMissBartlettseemedtounderstandandaconversationdeveloped，inwhichgentlemenwhodidnotthoroughlyrealizeplayedaprincipalpart。Lucy，notrealizingeither，wasreducedtoliterature。

TakingupBaedeker"sHandbooktoNorthernItaly，shecommittedtomemorythemostimportantdatesofFlorentineHistory。Forshewasdeterminedtoenjoyherselfonthemorrow。Thusthehalf-hourcreptprofitablyaway，andatlastMissBartlettrosewithasigh，andsaid:

"Ithinkonemightventurenow。No，Lucy，donotstir。Iwillsuperintendthemove。”

"Howyoudodoeverything，"saidLucy。

"Naturally，dear。Itismyaffair。”

"ButIwouldliketohelpyou。”

"No，dear。”

Charlotte"senergy!Andherunselfishness!Shehadbeenthusallherlife，butreally，onthisItaliantour，shewassurpassingherself。SoLucyfelt，orstrovetofeel。Andyet——therewasarebelliousspiritinherwhichwonderedwhethertheacceptancemightnothavebeenlessdelicateandmorebeautiful。Atallevents，sheenteredherownroomwithoutanyfeelingofjoy。

"Iwanttoexplain，"saidMissBartlett，"whyitisthatIhavetakenthelargestroom。Naturally，ofcourse，Ishouldhavegivenittoyou；butIhappentoknowthatitbelongstotheyoungman，andIwassureyourmotherwouldnotlikeit。”

Lucywasbewildered。

"Ifyouaretoacceptafavouritismoresuitableyoushouldbeunderanobligationtohisfatherthantohim。Iamawomanoftheworld，inmysmallway，andIknowwherethingsleadto。How-

ever，Mr。Beebeisaguaranteeofasortthattheywillnotpresumeonthis。”

"Motherwouldn"tmindI"msure，"saidLucy，butagainhadthesenseoflargerandunsuspectedissues。

MissBartlettonlysighed，andenvelopedherinaprotectingembraceasshewishedhergood-night。ItgaveLucythesensationofafog，andwhenshereachedherownroomsheopenedthewindowandbreathedthecleannightair，thinkingofthekindoldmanwhohadenabledhertoseethelightsdancingintheArnoandthecypressesofSanMiniato，andthefoot-hillsoftheApennines，blackagainsttherisingmoon。

MissBartlett，inherroom，fastenedthewindow-shuttersandlockedthedoor，andthenmadeatouroftheapartmenttoseewherethecupboardsled，andwhethertherewereanyoubliettesorsecretentrances。Itwasthenthatshesaw，pinnedupoverthewashstand，asheetofpaperonwhichwasscrawledanenormousnoteofinterrogation。Nothingmore。

"Whatdoesitmean？"shethought，andsheexamineditcarefullybythelightofacandle。Meaninglessatfirst，itgraduallybecamemenacing，obnoxious，portentouswithevil。Shewasseizedwithanimpulsetodestroyit，butfortunatelyrememberedthatshehadnorighttodoso，sinceitmustbethepropertyofyoungMr。Emerson。Sosheunpinneditcarefully，andputitbetweentwopiecesofblotting-papertokeepitcleanforhim。Thenshecompletedherinspectionoftheroom，sighedheavilyaccordingtoherhabit，andwenttobed。

ChapterII:InSantaCrocewithNoBaedekerItwaspleasanttowakeupinFlorence，toopentheeyesuponabrightbareroom，withafloorofredtileswhichlookcleanthoughtheyarenot；withapaintedceilingwhereonpinkgriffinsandblueamorinisportinaforestofyellowviolinsandbassoons。Itwaspleasant，too，toflingwidethewindows，pinchingthefingersinunfamiliarfastenings，toleanoutintosunshinewithbeautifulhillsandtreesandmarblechurchesopposite，andclosebelow，theArno，gurglingagainsttheembankmentoftheroad。

Overtherivermenwereatworkwithspadesandsievesonthesandyforeshore，andontheriverwasaboat，alsodiligentlyemployedforsomemysteriousend。Anelectrictramcamerushingunderneaththewindow。Noonewasinsideit，exceptonetourist；

butitsplatformswereoverflowingwithItalians，whopreferredtostand。Childrentriedtohangonbehind，andtheconductor，withnomalice，spatintheirfacestomakethemletgo。Thensoldiersappeared——good-looking，undersizedmen——wearingeachaknapsackcoveredwithmangyfur，andagreat-coatwhichhadbeencutforsomelargersoldier。Besidethemwalkedofficers，lookingfoolishandfierce，andbeforethemwentlittleboys，turningsomersaultsintimewiththeband。Thetramcarbecameentangledintheirranks，andmovedonpainfully，likeacaterpillarinaswarmofants。Oneofthelittleboysfelldown，andsomewhitebullockscameoutofanarchway。Indeed，ifithadnotbeenforthegoodadviceofanoldmanwhowassellingbutton-hooks，theroadmightneverhavegotclear。

Oversuchtrivialitiesasthesemanyavaluablehourmayslipaway，andthetravellerwhohasgonetoItalytostudythetactilevaluesofGiotto，orthecorruptionofthePapacy，mayreturnrememberingnothingbuttheblueskyandthemenandwomenwholiveunderit。SoitwasaswellthatMissBartlettshouldtapandcomein，andhavingcommentedonLucy"sleavingthedoorunlocked，andonherleaningoutofthewindowbeforeshewasfullydressed，shouldurgehertohastenherself，orthebestofthedaywouldbegone。BythetimeLucywasreadyhercousinhaddoneherbreakfast，andwaslisteningtothecleverladyamongthecrumbs。

Aconversationthenensued，onnotunfamiliarlines。MissBartlettwas，afterall，aweebittired，andthoughttheyhadbetterspendthemorningsettlingin；unlessLucywouldatallliketogoout？Lucywouldratherliketogoout，asitwasherfirstdayinFlorence，but，ofcourse，shecouldgoalone。MissBartlettcouldnotallowthis。OfcourseshewouldaccompanyLucyeverywhere。Oh，certainlynot；Lucywouldstopwithhercousin。

Oh，no!thatwouldneverdo。Oh，yes!

Atthispointthecleverladybrokein。

"IfitisMrs。Grundywhoistroublingyou，Idoassureyouthatyoucanneglectthegoodperson。BeingEnglish，MissHoneychurchwillbeperfectlysafe。Italiansunderstand。Adearfriendofmine，ContessaBaroncelli，hastwodaughters，andwhenshecannotsendamaidtoschoolwiththem，sheletsthemgoinsailor-hatsinstead。EveryonetakesthemforEnglish，yousee，especiallyiftheirhairisstrainedtightlybehind。”

MissBartlettwasunconvincedbythesafetyofContessaBaroncelli"sdaughters。ShewasdeterminedtotakeLucyherself，herheadnotbeingsoverybad。ThecleverladythensaidthatshewasgoingtospendalongmorninginSantaCroce，andifLucywouldcometoo，shewouldbedelighted。

"Iwilltakeyoubyadeardirtybackway，MissHoneychurch，andifyoubringmeluck，weshallhaveanadventure。”

Lucysaidthatthiswasmostkind，andatonceopenedtheBaedeker，toseewhereSantaCrocewas。

"Tut，tut!MissLucy!IhopeweshallsoonemancipateyoufromBaedeker。Hedoesbuttouchthesurfaceofthings。AstothetrueItaly——hedoesnotevendreamofit。ThetrueItalyisonlytobefoundbypatientobservation。”

Tinddownthesidestreetscutlikeaknife，didn"tit？PontealleGrazie——particularlyinteresting，mentionedbyDante。SanMiniato——beautifulaswellasinteresting；thecrucifixthatkissedamurderer——MissHoneychurchwouldrememberthestory。Themenontheriverwerefishing。(Untrue；butthen，soismostinformation。)ThenMissLavishdartedunderthearchwayofthewhitebullocks，andshestopped，andshecried:

hissoundedveryinteresting，andLucyhurriedoverherbreakfast，andstartedwithhernewfriendinhighspirits。Italywascomingatlast。TheCockneySignoraandherworkshadvanishedlikeabaddream。

MissLavish——forthatwasthecleverlady"sname——turnedtotherightalongthesunnyLung"Arno。Howdelightfullywarm!Butaw

"Asmell!atrueFlorentinesmell!Everycity，letmeteachyou，hasitsownsmell。”

"Isitaverynicesmell？"saidLucy，whohadinheritedfromhermotheradistastetodirt。

"Onedoesn"tcometoItalyforniceness，"wastheretort；"onecomesforlife。Buongiorno!Buongiorno!"bowingrightandleft。"Lookatthatadorablewine-cart!Howthedriverstaresatus，dear，simplesoul!"

SoMissLavishproceededthroughthestreetsofthecityofFlorence，short，fidgety，andplayfulasakitten，thoughwithoutakitten"sgrace。Itwasatreatforthegirltobewithanyonesocleverandsocheerful；andabluemilitarycloak，suchasanItalianofficerwears，onlyincreasedthesenseoffestivity。

"Buongiorno!Takethewordofanoldwoman，MissLucy:youwillneverrepentofalittlecivilitytoyourinferiors。Thatisthetruedemocracy。ThoughIamarealRadicalaswell。There，nowyou"reshocked。”

"Indeed，I"mnot!"exclaimedLucy。"WeareRadicals，too，outandout。MyfatheralwaysvotedforMr。Gladstone，untilhewassodreadfulaboutIreland。”

"Isee，Isee。Andnowyouhavegoneovertotheenemy。”

"Oh，please——!Ifmyfatherwasalive，IamsurehewouldvoteRadicalagainnowthatIrelandisallright。Andasitis，theglassoverourfrontdoorwasbrokenlastelection，andFreddyissureitwastheTories；butmothersaysnonsense，atramp。”

"Shameful!Amanufacturingdistrict，Isuppose？"

"No——intheSurreyhills。AboutfivemilesfromDorking，lookingovertheWeald。”

MissLavishseemedinterested，andslackenedhertrot。

"Whatadelightfulpart；Iknowitsowell。Itisfulloftheverynicestpeople。DoyouknowSirHarryOtway——aRadicalifevertherewas？"

"Verywellindeed。”

"AndoldMrs。Butterworththephilanthropist？""Why，sherentsafieldofus!Howfunny!"

MissLavishlookedatthenarrowribbonofsky，andmurmured:

"Oh，youhavepropertyinSurrey？"

"Hardlyany，"saidLucy，fearfulofbeingthoughtasnob。"Onlythirtyacres——justthegarden，alldownhill，andsomefields。”

MissLavishwasnotdisgusted，andsaiditwasjustthesizeofheraunt"sSuffolkestate。Italyreceded。TheytriedtorememberthelastnameofLadyLouisasomeone，whohadtakenahousenearSummerStreettheotheryear，butshehadnotlikedit，whichwasoddofher。AndjustasMissLavishhadgotthename，shebrokeoffandexclaimed:

"Blessus!Blessusandsaveus!We"velosttheway。”

CertainlytheyhadseemedalongtimeinreachingSantaCroce，thetowerofwhichhadbeenplainlyvisiblefromthelandingwindow。ButMissLavishhadsaidsomuchaboutknowingherFlorencebyheart，thatLucyhadfollowedherwithnomisgivings。

"Lost!lost!MydearMissLucy，duringourpoliticaldiatribeswehavetakenawrongturning。HowthosehorridConservativeswouldjeeratus!Whatarewetodo？Twolonefemalesinanunknowntown。Now，thisiswhatIcallanadventure。”

Lucy，whowantedtoseeSantaCroce，suggested，asapossiblesolution，thattheyshouldaskthewaythere。

"Oh，butthatisthewordofacraven!Andno，youarenot，not，NOTtolookatyourBaedeker。Giveittome；Ishan"tletyoucarryit。Wewillsimplydrift。”

Accordinglytheydriftedthroughaseriesofthosegrey-brownstreets，neithercommodiousnorpicturesque，inwhichtheeasternquarterofthecityabounds。LucysoonlostinterestinthediscontentofLadyLouisa，andbecamediscontentedherself。ForoneravishingmomentItalyappeared。ShestoodintheSquareoftheAnnunziataandsawinthelivingterra-cottathosedivinebabieswhomnocheapreproductioncaneverstale。Theretheystood，withtheirshininglimbsburstingfromthegarmentsofcharity，andtheirstrongwhitearmsextendedagainstcircletsofheaven。Lucythoughtshehadneverseenanythingmorebeautiful；

butMissLavish，withashriekofdismay，draggedherforward，declaringthattheywereoutoftheirpathnowbyatleastamile。

Thehourwasapproachingatwhichthecontinentalbreakfastbegins，orratherceases，totell，andtheladiesboughtsomehotchestnutpasteoutofalittleshop，becauseitlookedsotypical。Ittastedpartlyofthepaperinwhichitwaswrapped，partlyofhairoil，partlyofthegreatunknown。ButitgavethemstrengthtodriftintoanotherPiazza，largeanddusty，onthefarthersideofwhichroseablack-and-whitefacadeofsurpassingugliness。MissLavishspoketoitdramatically。ItwasSantaCroce。Theadventurewasover。

"Stopaminute；letthosetwopeoplegoon，orIshallhavetospeaktothem。Idodetestconventionalintercourse。Nasty!theyaregoingintothechurch，too。Oh，theBritisherabroad!"

"Wesatoppositethematdinnerlastnight。Theyhavegivenustheirrooms。Theyweresoverykind。”

"Lookattheirfigures!"laughedMissLavish。"TheywalkthroughmyItalylikeapairofcows。It"sverynaughtyofme，butI

wouldliketosetanexaminationpaperatDover，andturnbackeverytouristwhocouldn"tpassit。”

"Whatwouldyouaskus？"

MissLavishlaidherhandpleasantlyonLucy"sarm，asiftosuggestthatshe，atallevents，wouldgetfullmarks。Inthisexaltedmoodtheyreachedthestepsofthegreatchurch，andwereabouttoenteritwhenMissLavishstopped，squeaked，flungupherarms，andcried:

"Theregoesmylocal-colourbox!Imusthaveawordwithhim!"

AndinamomentshewasawayoverthePiazza，hermilitarycloakflappinginthewind；nordidsheslackenspeedtillshecaughtupanoldmanwithwhitewhiskers，andnippedhimplayfullyuponthearm。

Lucywaitedfornearlytenminutes。Thenshebegantogettired。

Thebeggarsworriedher，thedustblewinhereyes，andsherememberedthatayounggirloughtnottoloiterinpublicplaces。ShedescendedslowlyintothePiazzawiththeintentionofrejoiningMissLavish，whowasreallyalmosttoooriginal。ButatthatmomentMissLavishandherlocal-colourboxmovedalso，anddisappeareddownasidestreet，bothgesticulatinglargely。

TearsofindignationcametoLucy"seyespartlybecauseMissLavishhadjiltedher，partlybecauseshehadtakenherBaedeker。

Howcouldshefindherwayhome？HowcouldshefindherwayaboutinSantaCroce？Herfirstmorningwasruined，andshemightneverbeinFlorenceagain。Afewminutesagoshehadbeenallhighspirits，talkingasawomanofculture，andhalfpersuadingherselfthatshewasfulloforiginality。Nowsheenteredthechurchdepressedandhumiliated，notevenabletorememberwhetheritwasbuiltbytheFranciscansortheDominicans。

Ofcourse，itmustbeawonderfulbuilding。Buthowlikeabarn!

Andhowverycold!Ofcourse，itcontainedfrescoesbyGiotto，inthepresenceofwhosetactilevaluesshewascapableoffeelingwhatwasproper。Butwhowastotellherwhichtheywere？Shewalkedaboutdisdainfully，unwillingtobeenthusiasticovermonumentsofuncertainauthorshipordate。Therewasnooneeventotellherwhich，ofallthesepulchralslabsthatpavedthenaveandtransepts，wastheonethatwasreallybeautiful，theonethathadbeenmostpraisedbyMr。Ruskin。

ThentheperniciouscharmofItalyworkedonher，and，insteadofacquiringinformation，shebegantobehappy。ShepuzzledouttheItaliannotices——thenoticesthatforbadepeopletointroducedogsintothechurch——thenoticethatprayedpeople，intheinterestofhealthandoutofrespecttothesacrededificeinwhichtheyfoundthemselves，nottospit。Shewatchedthetourists；theirnoseswereasredastheirBaedekers，socoldwasSantaCroce。ShebeheldthehorriblefatethatovertookthreePapists——twohe-babiesandashe-baby——whobegantheircareerbysousingeachotherwiththeHolyWater，andthenproceededtotheMachiavellimemorial，drippingbuthallowed。Advancingtowardsitveryslowlyandfromimmensedistances，theytouchedthestonewiththeirfingers，withtheirhandkerchiefs，withtheirheads，andthenretreated。Whatcouldthismean？Theydiditagainandagain。ThenLucyrealizedthattheyhadmistakenMachiavelliforsomesaint，hopingtoacquirevirtue。Punishmentfollowedquickly。Thesmallesthe-babystumbledoveroneofthesepulchralslabssomuchadmiredbyMr。Ruskin，andentangledhisfeetinthefeaturesofarecumbentbishop。Protestantasshewas，Lucydartedforward。Shewastoolate。Hefellheavilyupontheprelate"supturnedtoes。

"Hatefulbishop!"exclaimedthevoiceofoldMr。Emerson，whohaddartedforwardalso。"Hardinlife，hardindeath。Gooutintothesunshine，littleboy，andkissyourhandtothesun，forthatiswhereyououghttobe。Intolerablebishop!"

Thechildscreamedfranticallyatthesewords，andatthesedreadfulpeoplewhopickedhimup，dustedhim，rubbedhisbruises，andtoldhimnottobesuperstitious。

"Lookathim!"saidMr。EmersontoLucy。"Here"samess:ababyhurt，cold，andfrightened!Butwhatelsecanyouexpectfromachurch？"

Thechild"slegshadbecomeasmeltingwax。EachtimethatoldMr。EmersonandLucysetiterectitcollapsedwitharoar。

FortunatelyanItalianlady，whooughttohavebeensayingherprayers，cametotherescue。Bysomemysteriousvirtue，whichmothersalonepossess，shestiffenedthelittleboy"sback-boneandimpartedstrengthtohisknees。Hestood。Stillgibberingwithagitation，hewalkedaway。

"Youareacleverwoman，"saidMr。Emerson。"Youhavedonemorethanalltherelicsintheworld。Iamnotofyourcreed，butI

dobelieveinthosewhomaketheirfellow-creatureshappy。Thereisnoschemeoftheuniverse——"

Hepausedforaphrase。

"Niente，"saidtheItalianlady，andreturnedtoherprayers。

"I"mnotsuresheunderstandsEnglish，"suggestedLucy。

InherchastenedmoodshenolongerdespisedtheEmersons。Shewasdeterminedtobegracioustothem，beautifulratherthandelicate，and，ifpossible，toeraseMissBartlett"scivilitybysomegraciousreferencetothepleasantrooms。

"Thatwomanunderstandseverything，"wasMr。Emerson"sreply。

"Butwhatareyoudoinghere？Areyoudoingthechurch？Areyouthroughwiththechurch？"

"No，"criedLucy，rememberinghergrievance。"IcameherewithMissLavish，whowastoexplaineverything；andjustbythedoor——itistoobad!——shesimplyranaway，andafterwaitingquiteatime，Ihadtocomeinbymyself。”

"Whyshouldn"tyou？"saidMr。Emerson。

"Yes，whyshouldn"tyoucomebyyourself？"saidtheson，addressingtheyoungladyforthefirsttime。

"ButMissLavishhaseventakenawayBaedeker。”

"Baedeker？"saidMr。Emerson。"I"mgladit"sTHATyouminded。

It"sworthminding，thelossofaBaedeker。THAT"Sworthminding。”

Lucywaspuzzled。Shewasagainconsciousofsomenewidea，andwasnotsurewhitheritwouldleadher。

"Ifyou"venoBaedeker，"saidtheson，"you"dbetterjoinus。”

Wasthiswheretheideawouldlead？Shetookrefugeinherdignity。

"Thankyouverymuch，butIcouldnotthinkofthat。IhopeyoudonotsupposethatIcametojoinontoyou。Ireallycametohelpwiththechild，andtothankyouforsokindlygivingusyourroomslastnight。Ihopethatyouhavenotbeenputtoanygreatinconvenience。”

"Mydear，"saidtheoldmangently，"Ithinkthatyouarerepeatingwhatyouhaveheardolderpeoplesay。Youarepretendingtobetouchy；butyouarenotreally。Stopbeingsotiresome，andtellmeinsteadwhatpartofthechurchyouwanttosee。Totakeyoutoitwillbearealpleasure。”

Now，thiswasabominablyimpertinent，andsheoughttohavebeenfurious。Butitissometimesasdifficulttoloseone"stemperasitisdifficultatothertimestokeepit。Lucycouldnotgetcross。Mr。Emersonwasanoldman，andsurelyagirlmighthumourhim。Ontheotherhand，hissonwasayoungman，andshefeltthatagirloughttobeoffendedwithhim，oratalleventsbeoffendedbeforehim。Itwasathimthatshegazedbeforereplying。

"Iamnottouchy，Ihope。ItistheGiottosthatIwanttosee，ifyouwillkindlytellmewhichtheyare。”

Thesonnodded。Withalookofsombresatisfaction，heledthewaytothePeruzziChapel。Therewasahintoftheteacherabouthim。Shefeltlikeachildinschoolwhohadansweredaquestionrightly。

Thechapelwasalreadyfilledwithanearnestcongregation，andoutofthemrosethevoiceofalecturer，directingthemhowtoworshipGiotto，notbytactfulvaluations，butbythestandardsofthespirit。

"Remember，"hewassaying，"thefactsaboutthischurchofSantaCroce；howitwasbuiltbyfaithinthefullfervourofmedievalism，beforeanytaintoftheRenaissancehadappeared。

ObservehowGiottointhesefrescoes——now，unhappily，ruinedbyrestoration——isuntroubledbythesnaresofanatomyandperspective。Couldanythingbemoremajestic，morepathetic，beautiful，true？Howlittle，wefeel，availsknowledgeandtechnicalclevernessagainstamanwhotrulyfeels!"

"No!"exclaimedMr。Emerson，inmuchtooloudavoiceforchurch。

"Remembernothingofthesort!Builtbyfaithindeed!Thatsimplymeanstheworkmenweren"tpaidproperly。Andasforthefrescoes，Iseenotruthinthem。Lookatthatfatmaninblue!HemustweighasmuchasIdo，andheisshootingintotheskylikeanairballoon。”

Hewasreferringtothefrescoofthe"AscensionofSt。John。”

Inside，thelecturer"svoicefaltered，aswellitmight。Theaudienceshifteduneasily，andsodidLucy。Shewassurethatsheoughtnottobewiththesemen；buttheyhadcastaspelloverher。Theyweresoseriousandsostrangethatshecouldnotrememberhowtobehave。

"Now，didthishappen，ordidn"tit？Yesorno？"

Georgereplied:

"Ithappenedlikethis，ifithappenedatall。Iwouldrathergouptoheavenbymyselfthanbepushedbycherubs；andifIgotthereIshouldlikemyfriendstoleanoutofit，justastheydohere。”

"Youwillnevergoup，"saidhisfather。"YouandI，dearboy，willlieatpeaceintheearththatboreus，andournameswilldisappearassurelyasourworksurvives。”

"Someofthepeoplecanonlyseetheemptygrave，notthesaint，whoeverheis，goingup。Itdidhappenlikethat，ifithappenedatall。”

"Pardonme，"saidafrigidvoice。"Thechapelissomewhatsmallfortwoparties。Wewillincommodeyounolonger。”

Thelecturerwasaclergyman，andhisaudiencemustbealsohisflock，fortheyheldprayer-booksaswellasguide-booksintheirhands。Theyfiledoutofthechapelinsilence。AmongstthemwerethetwolittleoldladiesofthePensionBertolini——MissTeresaandMissCatherineAlan。

"Stop!"criedMr。Emerson。"There"splentyofroomforusall。

Stop!"

Theprocessiondisappearedwithoutaword。

Soonthelecturercouldbeheardinthenextchapel，describingthelifeofSt。Francis。

"George，IdobelievethatclergymanistheBrixtoncurate。”

Georgewentintothenextchapelandreturned，saying"Perhapsheis。Idon"tremember。”

"ThenIhadbetterspeaktohimandremindhimwhoIam。It"sthatMr。Eager。Whydidhego？Didwetalktooloud？Howvexatious。Ishallgoandsaywearesorry。Hadn"tIbetter？Thenperhapshewillcomeback。”

"Hewillnotcomeback，"saidGeorge。