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behind the house。 The roof steamed。 All the windows were shut； all the
jalousies shut； yet it was so hot that no one could stir within。 The maid
slept in the kitchen； the two elderly mistresses of the house dozed upon
their beds。 Not a movement； not a sound。
Gradually along the steep road from Camerata there came a roll of
distant carriage…wheels。 The sound came nearer and nearer； till one could
see the carriage； and see the driver leading the tired； thin； cab…horse； his
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bones starting under the shaggy hide。 Inside the carriage reclined a
handsome； middle…aged lady； with a stern profile turned toward the road； a
young girl in pale pink cotton and a broad hat trudged up the hill at the
side。
〃Goneril；〃 said Miss Hamelyn； 〃let me beg you again to come inside
the carriage。〃
〃Oh no； Aunt Margaret； I'm not a bit tired。〃
〃But I have asked you； that is reason enough。〃
〃It's so hot！〃 cried Goneril。
〃That is why I object to your walking。〃
〃But if it's so hot for me； just think how hot is must be for the horse。〃
Goneril cast a commiserating glance at the poor； halting； wheezing
nag。
〃The horse； probably；〃 rejoined Miss Hamelyn； 〃does not suffer from
malaria； neither has he kept his aunt in Florence nursing him till the
middle heat of the summer。〃
〃True！〃 said Goneril。 Then； after a few minutes； 〃I'll get in； Aunt
Margaret； on one condition。〃
〃In my time young people did not make conditions。〃
〃Very well； auntie； I'll get in； and you shall answer all my questions
when you feel inclined。〃
The carriage stopped。 The poor horse panted at his ease； while the girl
seated herself beside Miss Hamelyn。 Then for a few minutes they drove on
in silence past the orchards； past the olive…yards； yellow underneath the
ripening corn； past the sudden wide views of the mountains； faintly
crimson in the mist of heat； and； on the other side； of Florence； the towers
and domes steaming beside the hazy river。
〃How hot it looks down there！〃 cried Goneril。
〃How hot it /feels/！〃 echoed Miss Hamelyn； rather grimly。
〃Yes； I am so glad you can get away at last； dear； poor old auntie。〃
Then； a little later； 〃Won't you tell me something about the old ladies with
whom you are going to leave me？〃
Miss Hamelyn was mollified by Goneril's obedience。
〃They are very nice old ladies；〃 she said； 〃I met them at Mrs。
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Gorthrup's。〃 But this was not at all what the young girl wanted。
〃Only think； Aunt Margaret；〃 she cried； impatiently； 〃I am to stay there
for at least six weeks； and I know nothing about them； not what age they
are； nor if they are tall or short； jolly or prim； pretty； or ugly； not even if
they speak English！〃
〃They speak English；〃 said Miss Hamelyn； beginning at the end。 〃One
of them is English； or at least Irish： Miss Prunty。〃
〃And the other？〃
〃She is an Italian； Signora Petrucci； she used to be very handsome。〃
〃Oh！〃 said Goneril； looking pleased。 〃I'm glad she's handsome； and
that they speak English。 But they are not relations？〃
〃No； they are not connected； they are friends。〃
〃And have they always lived together？〃
〃Ever since Madame Lilli died；〃 and Miss Hamelyn named a very
celebrated singer。
〃Why！〃 cried Goneril； quite excited； 〃were they singers too？〃
〃Madame Petrucci； nevertheless a lady of the highest respectability。
Miss Prunty was Madame Lilli's secretary。〃
〃How nice！〃 cried the young girl； 〃how interesting！ O auntie； I'm so
glad you found them out。〃
〃So am I； child； but please remember it is not an ordinary pension。
They only take you； Goneril； till you are strong enough to travel； as an
especial favour to me and to their old friend； Mrs。 Gorthrup。〃
〃I'll remember； auntie。〃
By this time they were driving under the terrace in front of the little
house。
〃Goneril；〃 said the elder lady； 〃I shall leave you outside； you can play
in the garden or the orchard。〃
〃Very well。〃
Miss Hamelyn left the carriage and ascended the steep little flight of
steps that leads from the road to the cottage garden。
In the porch a singular figure was awaiting her。
〃Good…afternoon； Madame Petrucci；〃 said Miss Hamelyn。
A slender old lady； over sixty； rather tall； in a brown silk skirt； and a
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white burnoose that showed the shrunken slimness of her arms； came
eagerly forward。 She was rather pretty； with small refined features； large
expressionless blue eyes； and long whitish…yellow ringlets down her
cheeks； in the fashion of forty years ago。
〃Oh； /dear/ Miss Hamelyn；〃 she cried； 〃how /glad/ I am to see you！
And have you brought your /charming/ young relation？〃
She spoke with a languid foreign accent； and with an emphatic and
bountiful use of adjectives； that gave to our severer generation an
impression of insincerity。 Yet it was said with truth that Giulia Petrucci
had never forgotten a friend nor an enemy。
〃Goneril is outside；〃 said Miss Hamelyn。 〃How is Miss Prunty？〃
〃Brigida？ Oh； you must come inside and see my invaluable Brigida。
She is； as usual； fatiguing herself with our accounts。〃 The old lady led the
way into the darkened parlour。 It was small and rather stiff。 As one's eyes
became accustomed to the dim green light one noticed the incongruity of
the furniture： the horsehair chairs and sofa； and large accountant's desk
with ledgers； the large Pleyel grand piano； a bookcase； in which all the
books were rare copies or priceless MSS。 of old…fashioned operas； hanging
against the wall an inlaid guitar and some faded laurel crowns； moreover；
a fine engraving of a composer； twenty years ago the most popular man in
Italy； lastly； an oil…colour portrait； by Winterman； of a fascinating blonde；
with very bare white shoulders； holding in her hands a scroll； on which
were inscribed some notes of music； under the title Giulia Petrucci。 In
short； the private parlo