A Room with a View

Mr. Eager had met them with a questioning eye. Charlotte had repulsed him with much small talk. Mr. Emerson, seeking his son, was told whereabouts to find him. M

s and unsuccessful picnics. Mr. Beebe had lost everyone, and had consumed in solitude the tea-basket which he had brought up as a pleasant surprise. Miss

with his collar up, prophesying the swift approach of bad weather

will be hours,"

hile the others had used scraps of their intelligence. He alone had divined what things were, and what he wished them to be. He alone had interpreted the message that Lucy had received five d

ld trouble English ladies no more. Of course, it was most unpleasant; she had seen his black head in the bushes; he might make a tavern story out of it. But after all, what have we to do with taverns? Real menace belongs to the drawing-room.

asol. There was a lightning flash, and Miss Lavish who was nervous, screamed from the carri

lasphemous in this horror of the elements. Are we seriously to suppose that all these clouds,

f cou

steel knives, the only articles which might attract the current, are in the other carriage.

great that we care not what exactly it signifies or how much we may have to pay for it afterwards. Miss Bartlett, b

e two carriages stoppe

e. "We want your assistance.

r driver which way George went. The b

k our driver; our driver is no help. Go and su

cried the old man.

quitted the carriage. "In the presence of real

as soon as they were alone. "Charl

we better? Shall I?" She took out her purse. "It is dreadful to be entangled with low-class people. He

well this ending to his day as any. But L

have been hurt. They chose to regard it as a miraculous preservation, and the floods of love and sincerity, which fructify every hour of life, burst forth in tumult. They desc

ed that, even if they had continued, they would not have been caught in the accident. Mr. Eager mumbled a temperate prayer. But the dr

ain. Only you can understand me. You warned me

dearest. Ta

u know, far worse. Once by the river-Oh, but h

, the storm was worst along the road; but she had been ne

e would always p

elieve that. I simply slipped into those violets. No, I want to be really truthful. I am a little to blame. I had sil

a bo

he nonsense of

d t

, you know what

in amount of insight she drew her young cousin affectionately to her. All th

e whispered. "It is so hard

till you are calmer. We will talk

The storm had ceased, and Mr. Emerson was easier about his son. Mr. Beebe had regained good humour, and Mr. Eager was al

how she should describe it. All her sensations, her spasms of courage, her moments of unreasonable joy, her mysterious disconte

elf. I shan't again be troubled by things that

tening to a long story about lost luggage. When it was over she capped it by a story of her own. Lucy became rather hysterical with the delay. In vain she tried to chec

or Bedfordshire. Come into my room, and

d a cane chair placed for the girl. Then

to her that she would have to do anything. A detailed exh

point, dearest, which

s Bartlett's toque, which cast monstrous and fantastic shadows on the bolted door. A tram roared by in the dark, and Lucy felt unaccountably sad, thoug

for nearly four hou

tt ignored

propose to s

dri

, no; Mr. Geo

pace up and

rstand," she

but she no longer wished

ng to stop him t

hat talk is a thing

unfortunately I have met the type before. T

ucy, wincing under

am only gathering it from his own remarks. Do you remember that day at lunch when he

om at the time the a

is thoroughly unrefined. Let us put it down to his deplorable antecedents and educatio

had she thought of it sooner and made it

o speak to h

ttered a cry of

I shall never forget it. But-as you

IMPLORE him, to BEG

u ask him he answers, yes or no; then it is over. I have

at you cannot realize what men can be-how they can take a brutal pleasure in insulting a woman whom her sex d

ink," said

ss Bartlett repeat her questio

e happened if I

ink," said

you, how would y

ime to thin

tell me now what y

ff. She went up to the dripping window and strained her eyes i

ear," said Miss Bartlett. "Yo

lf-abasement in which she had started. Neither of them referred again to her suggest

ett became

do not trust him. Oh, for your brother! He is young, but I know that his sister's insult would rouse in hi

she wore several, and ranged them upon the pin

catch the morning tr

t tr

" She looked at her

announcement as easily

the train t

ei

rtolini wou

Bartlett, not liking to say tha

s pay for a whol

ch more comfortable at the Vyses' hotel. Is

remained motionless and silent. To her tired eyes Charlo

by the side of an empty trunk, vainly endeavouring to pave it with books of varying thickness and size. She gave two or three sighs, for the stooping posture hurt her back, and, for all her diplomacy, she felt that she was growing old. The girl heard her as she entered the room, and was seized with one of those emoti

a stupid woman, and she knew perfectly well that Lucy did not love her, but nee

how will you ev

ence what forgiving Miss Bartlett meant. Her emotion re

o you mean? As if I hav

great deal to forgive myself, too. I kno

t n

favourite role, that of th

ave known it would not do. You want someone younger and stronger and more in sympathy wi

eas

ve me at home. I had my own poor ideas of what a lady ought to do, but I hope I did not infli

these things,"

d Charlotte loved each other, heart and

runk instead of strapping her own. "Failed to make you happy; failed in my duty to your m

is not your fault, this trouble,

ver forgive me, and rightly. For instance, wha

ry r

is equally true that I have neglected you. Your mothe

ly wish to improve

mother h

ell her ev

e I do ge

s something sacred in it. Unless you feel

d not be degr

ame you in any way, I promise I will not, I am very willing

n close. Miss Bartlett pecked her smartly on both cheek

ntervened, and, ever since, it was Miss Bartlett who had dominated; Miss Bartlett who, even now, could be heard sighing into a crack in the partition wall; Miss Bartlett, who had really been neither pliable nor humble nor inconsistent. She had worked like a great artist; for a time-indeed, for years-she had been meaningle

of her sincerity, of her craving for sympathy and love. Such a wrong is not easily forgotten. Never again did she expos

he hesitated, turned, and blew out the candle. Thus it was that, though she sa

her that she might slip into the passage and just say that she would be

ever proved. At the critical moment Miss Bart

you in the drawing-roo

ed, and Miss Bartlett said:

was the only reply; the c

can't all be true. I want not to be m

tt tapped o

dear. You need all t

ing they le

RT