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Page 52
Philip put on his pince-nez. " 'Lucia di Lammermoor.
By the Master Donizetti. Unique representation. This evening.'
"But is there an opera? Right up here?"
"Why, yes. These people know how to live. They would
sooner have a thing bad than not have it at all. That is
why they have got to have so much that is good. However bad
the performance is tonight, it will be alive. Italians
don't love music silently, like the beastly Germans. The
audience takes its share--sometimes more."
"Can't we go?"
He turned on her, but not unkindly. "But we're here to
rescue a child!"
He cursed himself for the remark. All the pleasure and
the light went out of her face, and she became again Miss
Abbott of Sawston--good, oh, most undoubtedly good, but most
appallingly dull. Dull and remorseful: it is a deadly
combination, and he strove against it in vain till he was
interrupted by the opening of the dining-room door.
They started as guiltily as if they had been flirting.
Their interview had taken such an unexpected course. Anger,
cynicism, stubborn morality--all had ended in a feeling of
good-will towards each other and towards the city which had
received them. And now Harriet was here--acrid,
indissoluble, large; the same in Italy as in
England--changing her disposition never, and her atmosphere
under protest.
Yet even Harriet was human, and the better for a little
tea. She did not scold Philip for finding Gino out, as she
might reasonably have done. She showered civilities on Miss
Abbott, exclaiming again and again that Caroline's visit was
one of the most fortunate coincidences in the world.
Caroline did not contradict her.
"You see him tomorrow at ten, Philip. Well, don't
forget the blank cheque. Say an hour for the business. No,
Italians are so slow; say two. Twelve o'clock. Lunch.
Well--then it's no good going till the evening train. I can
manage the baby as far as Florence--"
"My dear sister, you can't run on like that. You don't
buy a pair of gloves in two hours, much less a baby."
"Three hours, then, or four; or make him learn English
ways. At Florence we get a nurse--"
"But, Harriet," said Miss Abbott, "what if at first he
was to refuse?"
"I don't know the meaning of the word," said Harriet
impressively. "I've told the landlady that Philip and I
only want our rooms one night, and we shall keep to it."
"I dare say it will be all right. But, as I told you, I
thought the man I met on the Rocca a strange, difficult man."
"He's insolent to ladies, we know. But my brother can
be trusted to bring him to his senses. That woman, Philip,
whom you saw will carry the baby to the hotel. Of course
you must tip her for it. And try, if you can, to get poor
Lilia's silver bangles. They were nice quiet things, and
will do for Irma. And there is an inlaid box I lent
her--lent, not gave--to keep her handkerchiefs in. It's of no
real value; but this is our only chance. Don't ask for it;
but if you see it lying about, just say--"
"No, Harriet; I'll try for the baby, but for nothing
else. I promise to do that tomorrow, and to do it in the
way you wish. But tonight, as we're all tired, we want a
change of topic. We want relaxation. We want to go to the
theatre."
"Theatres here? And at such a moment?"
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