to them their destination. Philip, to
be annoying, answered "No."

"What do they do there?" continued Harriet, with a frown.

"There is a caffe. A prison. A theatre. A church. Walls. A view."

"Not for me, thank you," said Harriet, after a weighty pause.

"Nobody asked you, Miss, you see. Now Lilia was asked by such a nice
young gentleman, with curls all over his forehead, and teeth just as
white as father makes them." Then his manner changed. "But, Harriet, do
you see nothing wonderful or attractive in that place--nothing at all?"

"Nothing at all. It's frightful."

"I know it is. But it's old--awfully old."

"Beauty is the only test," said Harriet. "At least so you told me when
I sketched old buildings--for the sake, I suppose, of making yourself
unpleasant."

"Oh, I'm perfectly right. But at the same time--I don't know--so
many things have happened here--people have lived so hard and so
splendidly--I can't explain."

"I shouldn't think you could. It doesn't seem the best moment to begin
your Italy mania. I thought you were cured of it by now. Instead, will
you kindly tell me what you are going to do when you arrive. I do beg
you will not be taken unawares this time."

"First, Harriet, I shall settle you at the Stella d'Italia, in the
comfort that befits your sex and disposition. Then I shall make myself
some tea. After tea I shall take a book into Santa Deodata's, and read
there. It is always fresh and cool."

The martyred Harriet exclaimed, "I'm not clever, Philip. I don't go in
for it, as you know. But I know what's rude. And I know what's wrong."

"Meaning--?"

"You!" she shouted, bouncing on the cushions of the legno and startling
all the fleas. "What's the good of cleverness if a man's murdered a
woman?"

"Harriet, I am hot. To whom do you refer?"

"He. Her. If you don't look out he'll murder you. I wish he would."

"Tut tut, tutlet! You'd find a corpse extraordinarily inconvenient."
Then he tried to be less aggravating. "I heartily dislike the fellow,
but we know he didn't murder her. In that letter, though she said a lot,
she never said he was physically cruel."

"He has murdered her. The things he did--things one can't even
mention--"

"Things which one must mention if one's to talk at all. And things which
one must keep in their proper place. Because he was unfaithful to his
wife, it doesn't follow that in every way he's absolutely vile." He
looked at the city. It seemed to approve hi