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Page 21
"It mayn't be heaven below," she thought, "but it's
better than Charles."
And all the time the boy was watching her, and growing up.
She was reminded of Charles by a disagreeable letter
from the solicitors, bidding her disgorge a large sum of
money for Irma, in accordance with her late husband's will.
It was just like Charles's suspicious nature to have
provided against a second marriage. Gino was equally
indignant, and between them they composed a stinging reply,
which had no effect. He then said that Irma had better come
out and live with them. "The air is good, so is the food;
she will be happy here, and we shall not have to part with
the money." But Lilia had not the courage even to suggest
this to the Herritons, and an unexpected terror seized her
at the thought of Irma or any English child being educated
at Monteriano.
Gino became terribly depressed over the solicitors'
letter, more depressed than she thought necessary. There
was no more to do in the house, and he spent whole days in
the loggia leaning over the parapet or sitting astride it
disconsolately.
"Oh, you idle boy!" she cried, pinching his muscles.
"Go and play pallone."
"I am a married man," he answered, without raising his
head. "I do not play games any more."
"Go and see your friends then."
"I have no friends now."
"Silly, silly, silly! You can't stop indoors all day!"
"I want to see no one but you." He spat on to an olive-tree.
"Now, Gino, don't be silly. Go and see your friends,
and bring them to see me. We both of us like society."
He looked puzzled, but allowed himself to be persuaded,
went out, found that he was not as friendless as he
supposed, and returned after several hours in altered
spirits. Lilia congratulated herself on her good management.
"I'm ready, too, for people now," she said. "I mean to
wake you all up, just as I woke up Sawston. Let's have
plenty of men--and make them bring their womenkind. I mean
to have real English tea-parties."
"There is my aunt and her husband; but I thought you did
not want to receive my relatives."
"I never said such a--"
"But you would be right," he said earnestly. "They are
not for you. Many of them are in trade, and even we are
little more; you should have gentlefolk and nobility for
your friends."
"Poor fellow," thought Lilia. "It is sad for him to
discover that his people are vulgar." She began to tell him
that she loved him just for his silly self, and he flushed
and began tugging at his moustache.
"But besides your relatives I must have other people
here. Your friends have wives and sisters, haven't they?"
"Oh, yes; but of course I scarcely know them."
"Not know your friends' people?"
"Why, no. If they are poor and have to work for their
living I may see them--but not otherwise. Except--" He
stopped. The chief exception was a young lady, to whom he
had once been introduced for matrimonial purposes. But the
dowry had proved inadequate, and the acquaintance terminated.
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