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。