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Page 17
"See for yourself?" she exclaimed, and he remembered
afterwards that she had flushed crimson.
"That he is probably a ruffian and certainly a cad."
"There are no cads in Italy," she said quickly.
He was taken aback. It was one of his own remarks. And
she further upset him by adding, "He is the son of a
dentist. Why not?"
"Thank you for the information. I know everything, as I
told you before. I am also aware of the social position of
an Italian who pulls teeth in a minute provincial town."
He was not aware of it, but he ventured to conclude that
it was pretty, low. Nor did Lilia contradict him. But she
was sharp enough to say, "Indeed, Philip, you surprise me.
I understood you went in for equality and so on."
"And I understood that Signor Carella was a member of
the Italian nobility."
"Well, we put it like that in the telegram so as not to
shock dear Mrs. Herriton. But it is true. He is a younger
branch. Of course families ramify--just as in yours there is
your cousin Joseph." She adroitly picked out the only
undesirable member of the Herriton clan. "Gino's father is
courtesy itself, and rising rapidly in his profession. This
very month he leaves Monteriano, and sets up at Poggibonsi.
And for my own poor part, I think what people are is what
matters, but I don't suppose you'll agree. And I should
like you to know that Gino's uncle is a priest--the same as a
clergyman at home."
Philip was aware of the social position of an Italian
priest, and said so much about it that Lilia interrupted him
with, "Well, his cousin's a lawyer at Rome."
"What kind of 'lawyer'?"
"Why, a lawyer just like you are--except that he has lots
to do and can never get away."
The remark hurt more than he cared to show. He changed
his method, and in a gentle, conciliating tone delivered the
following speech:--
"The whole thing is like a bad dream--so bad that it
cannot go on. If there was one redeeming feature about the
man I might be uneasy. As it is I can trust to time. For
the moment, Lilia, he has taken you in, but you will find
him out soon. It is not possible that you, a lady,
accustomed to ladies and gentlemen, will tolerate a man
whose position is--well, not equal to the son of the
servants' dentist in Coronation Place. I am not blaming you
now. But I blame the glamour of Italy--I have felt it
myself, you know--and I greatly blame Miss Abbott."
"Caroline! Why blame her? What's all this to do with Caroline?"
"Because we expected her to--" He saw that the answer
would involve him in difficulties, and, waving his hand,
continued, "So I am confident, and you in your heart agree,
that this engagement will not last. Think of your life at
home--think of Irma! And I'll also say think of us; for you
know, Lilia, that we count you more than a relation. I
should feel I was losing my own sister if you did this, and
my mother would lose a daughter."
She seemed touched at last, for she turned away her face
and said, "I can't break it off now!"
"Poor Lilia," said he, genuinely moved. "I know it may
be painful. But I have come to rescue you, and, book-worm
though I may be, I am not frightened to stand up to a
bully. He's merely an insolent boy. He thinks he can keep
you to your word by threats. He will be different when he
sees he has a man to deal with."
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