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；atthenoticeoftheEnglishchurchRev。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。